Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/421

 SMITH

SMITH

He also left $500 to the Smith Library in Frank- lin, N.H., founded by his foster-father, and $1000 to the Bellefontaine cemetery, the interest to be used to keep his burial lot perpetually in order. He died in St. Louis, Mo., March 24, 1902.

SMITH, George Washington, representative, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, Aug. 18, 1846. He was brouglit up on a farm, learned the black- smitli trade; was graduated from McKendree col- lege, A.B., 1868, and from the University of Ill- inois, LL.B., 1870, and practised law in Murphys- boro, 111., 1870-89. He was a Republican presi- dential elector in 1881, and a representative from the twentieth Illinois district in the 51st, 52d and 53d congresses, 1889-95, and from the twenty- second district in the 54th-58th congresses, 1889- 1905, serving on the committee on post offices and post roads, and as chairman of the committee on private land claims.

SMITH, George William, governor of Virginia, was born in Virginia in 1762; son of Meriwether (q.v.) and Alice (Lee) Smith. He was married, Feb. 7, 1793, to Sarah Adams of Richmond. He was a representative from Essex to the house of delegates in 1794. but soon removed to Richmond to practise law, and represented Richmond in the house of delegates, 1802-08. In 1807, he became a member of the privy council, and when, on Dec. 11, 1811, Gov. James Monroe resigned to become Madison's secretary of state. Smith, being senior member, became chief executive of the state. Three weeks later, with many others, he was killed in the Richmond thea- tre fire. The disaster was recognized as national and the congress of the United States, by a special act, wore mourning for thirty days. The bodies of the victims were buried under the portico of the Monumental church, whicji marks the site of the theatre. He died in Richmond, Dec. 25, 1811. SMITH, George Williamson, educator, was born in Catskill, N.Y., Nov. 21, 1836; son of George and Catherine (Williamson) Smith. He attended the schools of Rochester, N.Y., and was graduated from Hobart college, A.B., 1857, A.M., 1860; and was principal of an academy at Blad- ensburg, Md., 1858-59. He was married, Oct. 19, 1859, to Susanna, daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Hall) Duvall of Bladensburg. He established and conducted a classical school at Washington, D.C., 1860-61; and was clerk in the U.S. navy depart- ment, 1861-64. He studied theology under the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Hull and Bishop Pinckney (q.v.); was ordained deacon in the P.E. church in 1860, and priest in 1864, and served as assistant in several churches in Washington. He was commissioned chaplain in the U.S. navy in 1864,

and was ordered on the blockade off Fort Fisher; was acting professor of mathematics in the Naval academy at Newport, R.I., 1864-65; chaplain at the Naval academy at Annapolis, Md., 1865-68, and chaplain on the U.S. flag-ship Franklin, European squadron, 1868-71. He was rector at Jamaica, L.I,, and at Brooklyn, N.Y., 1872-83, and was chosen president and professor of met- aphysics at Trinity college, Hartford, Conn., in 1883. He twice declined elections as bishop; as missionary bishop of Shanghai, China, in 1883; as bishop of Eastern Maryland in 1885, and as as- sistant bishop of Ohio in 1888. The honorary degree of D.D. was given him by Hobart in 1880, by Columbia in 1887, and by Yale in 1902, and that of LL.D. by Trinity in 1887. and by Williams in 1893. He is the author of Occasional papers and pamphlets.

SMITH, Gerrit, musician, was born in Hagers- town, Md., Dec. 11, 1859; son of Gerrit H. Smith; grand-nephew of Gerrit Smith, philanthrapist (q.v.), and great-grandson of Col. William Fitz- hugh and of Col. James Livingston (q.v.). Ha studied music in Geneva, N.Y''.; %vas graduated from Hobart college, A.B., 1876, A.M., 1879; studied music and architecture at Stuttgart, Ger- many, and under Samuel P. Warren, New York city; was organist at St. Paul's cathedral, Buffalo, N.Y''.; continued his studies in Berlin, 1880-81, and on his return played in a number of cities. He was organist at St. Peter's church, Albany, N.Y., until 1885, and from the latter date of the Old South church. New York city, where he introduced the custom of an annual series of free organ recitals. He also became lecturer on sacred music in Union Theological seminary in 1890, and made many appearances abroad as a concert organist. Mr. Smith founded the Manuscript Society of Composers, officiating as its president; was president of the New York State Music Teachers' association; director of the Composers' club; honorary president and warden of the American Guild of Organists. His compositions include: King David, a cantata; Te Deums, antliems, carols, piano pieces and several songs.

SMITH, Gerrit, philanthropist, was born in Utica, N.Y., March 6, 1797; son of Peter (1768- 1887) and Elizabeth (Livingston) Smith. His father was associated with John Jacob Astor in the fur trade and became a large owner of real estate in Oneida, Chenango and Madison counties. Gerrit was graduated from Hamilton college in 1818 and engaged in the care of his father's estate. He was twice married, first to Wealthy Ann, daughter of President Azel Backus, D.D., of Hamilton college, and secondly in 1822 to Ann C, daughter of William Fitzhugh of Geneva, N.Y. He was a representative in the 33d congress, 1853- 54, as an independent candidate, but resigned