Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/628

594 the rectorship of Trinity church, Newport, in 1790. This post he held for seven years. He aided in organizing the Episcopal church in Rhode Island, and delivered the sermon at its first convention in N.. ember, 1790. He next was rector of St. Paul's church, Norwalk, Conn., in 1797-1800, then re- moved to New York city, opened a grammar-school, and acquired high reputation as a teacher. In 1802 he accepted the principalship of the Episcopal academy, Cheshire, Conn., and gave instruction to candidates for orders in connection with his other duties. In 1806 he returned to New York city, where he resumed teaching the classics, mostly to private scholars. He performed clerical duty to some extent, but was never again settled in any parish. Dr. Smith was a man of superior ability and excellent scholarship and culture, possessing ready command of language, but he lacked good judgment and skill in managing youth and guiding affairs. His ability was clearly displayed in the preparation of the ' Office of Induction of Ministers into Parishes." He was requested by the convoca- tion in Connecticut to prepare such an office, which was approved and set forth with slight changes by the general convention of 1804. It was issued again, with some alterations, in 1808 ; the title was changed to " An Office of Institution of Ministers into Parishes or Churches." and its use was made permissible. Dr. Smith was the author of "The Reasonableness of setting forth the Praises of God, according to the Use of the Primitive Church, with Historical Views of Metre Psalmody" (New York. 1814) ; " Essays on the Christian Ministry " (a con- troversial work in defence of episcopacy); "Chants for Public Worship"; and several occasional >er- mons and articles in magazines.

SMITH, William, member of the Continental congress, b. in Baltimore, Md., in 1730; d. there, X!7 March, 1S14. He supported the patriot cause, was a delegate to the Continental congress in 1777-'8, served in the 1st congress in 1789-'91, having been chosen as a Federalist, was appointed by Gen. Washington auditor of the treasury in July of the latter year, served three months, and was a presidential elector in 1792, casting his vote for George Washington.

SMITH, William, statesman, b. in North Caro- lina in 17(52; d. in Huntsville, Ala., 10 June, 1840. Nothing is known of his ancestry. He emigrated to S< nun Carolina when he was very young and poor, but obtained means to procure an education, and in 1780 was graduated at Mount Zion college, Winnsborough, S. C. He was admitted to the bar of Charleston, S. C.. in 1784, served in the legisla- ture for several years and in the state senate in 1806-'8, at the latter date, while president of the senate, becoming circuit judge. He was chosen to congress as a Democrat in 1796, served one term, returned to the bench, and occupied it till 1816, when he was elected to the U. S. senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Taylor, serving in 1817-'23. He was a Unionist candidate for re-election in 1822, but was defeated by Robert Y. Hayne. He was then chosen to the state house of representatives, and in 1825 led the party that re- versed John C. Calhoun's previous policy in South Carolina. In December, 1826, he was returned to the U. S. senate to fill the unexpired term of John (iaillard. lie va< defeated in the iiet ciMiva--., I nit during his senatorial service was twice president pro tempore, and declined the appointment of judge of the supreme court of the United States. In 1829 he received the seven electoral votes of Georgia for the vice-presidency. In 1831 he signed the appeal to the Union party of 8outh Carolina, served a third term in the state senate, but, differing in politics from John C. Calhoun, removed to Ala- bama, that he might not reside where the latter's policy prevailed. He served several sessions in the legislature of that state, and declined in 1836 the appointment of justice of the U. S. supreme court, which was offered him by President Jack- son. Having bought large tracts of land in Louisi- ana and Alabama during his first term in the U. S. senate, he accumulated a large fortune, built a costly residence in Huntsville, and died a mill- ionaire. He was an able though tyrannical judge, an implacable opponent, and an ardent friend. He was a state-rights advocate of the strictest sort, but opposed nullification as a new doctrine, a protec- tive tariff, and a national system of improvements.

SMITH, William, governor of Virginia, b. in King George county, Va.. 6 Sept., 1796 ; d. in War- renton. Va., 18 May, 1887. He was educated at classical schools in Virginia and Connecticut, be- gan to practise law in Culpeper county. Va., in 1818, and engaged in politics. After serving the Democratic party in a dozen canvasses as a politi- cal speaker, he was chosen state senator in 1830, served five years, and in 1840 was elected to con- gress, but was defeated in the next canvass, his district having become strongly Whig. He then removed to Pauquier county, where in December, 1845, he was one day addressed as Governor Smith. He then heard for the first time that, without con- sulting him, the Virginia legislature had chosen him governor for the terra beginning 1 Jan., 1846. He removed to California in 1850, was president of the first Democratic convention that was held in that state, returned to Virginia the same year, and in 1853-'G1 was a member of congress, during which service he was chairman of the committee on the laws of public printing. In June, 1861, he became colonel of the 49th Virginia infantry, and he was chosen soon afterward to the Con- federate congress, but he resigned in 1862 for active duty in the field. He was promoted briga- dier-general the same year, and severely wounded at Antietam. He was re-elected governor in 1863, served till the close of the war, and subsequently sat for one term in the state house of delegates. Although he was never a student of statesmanship, he was a marvellously adroit politician, and few members of the Democratic party were furnished with so large a number of ingenious pleas. Asa sol- dier he was noted, on the contrary, for valor rather than tactical skill. Throughout his long career he was a familiar figure in many legislative bodies, and his eccentricities of habit and his humor endeared him to his constituents. In early manhood he established a line of post-coaches through Virginia, the Carolinas. and Georgia, on which he contracted to carry the U. S. mail. His soubriquet of " Extra Billy," which clung to him throughout his life, grew out of his demands for extra compensation for that service. His cousin. William Waugh. educator, b. in Warrenton, Fauquier CO., Va., 12 March. 1845, was educated at the University of Virginia and at Randolph Maeon college, entered the Confederate service at seventeen years of age, fought through the war in the ranks. t ice refusing commissions, and was wounded at the battles of Fair Oaks and Gettysburg. He was principal of Bethel academy in i871-'8, when he became professor of languages in Randolph Macon, held office till 1886, and since that time has been president of that college. He has published " Outlines i if r-c]inln-i " ,Xew Vnrk. IMS:!), ami "Chart of Comparative Syntax of Latin, Greek, French, German, and English " (1885).