William Russell Smith

William Russell Smith (March 27, 1815 – February 26, 1896) was a prominent Alabama politician who served in both the United States Congress and the Confederate Congress.

William Russell Smith
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th district
In office March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1857
Preceded by	Samuel Williams Inge
Succeeded by	Sydenham Moore
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office 1841-1843
Personal details
Born	Samuel Williams Inge March 27, 1815 Logan County, Kentucky
Died	February 26, 1896 (aged 80) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Signature

Biography

Smith was born in Logan County, Kentucky. He moved to Alabama at an early age and attended the University of Alabama. Smith was admitted to the bar in 1835.

The next year he served as a captain of state troops in the government's campaign against the Creek Indians, intended to remove most of them to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. He served as Mayor of Tuscaloosa in 1839 and as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives from 1841 to 1843. He later briefly served as a state judge from 1850 to 1851.

Smith was elected to four terms in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1851 to 1857, representing the Fourth District.

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Smith raised the 26th Alabama Infantry Regiment and was elected its colonel.[1] He stepped down to represent Alabama in the First and the Second Confederate Congresses, from 1862 to 1865.

After the war, he resumed his law practice in Tuscaloosa. He served as president of the University of Alabama from 1869 to 1871.

He died in Washington, D.C., on February 26, 1896.[2] He was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.[3]

References

1. Alabama, Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men: From 1540 to 1872, by Willis Brewer, p. 561.
2. "Death of Judge Smith." Washington Post. February 27, 1896.
3. William Russell Smith, by Benjamin Buford Williams, Montgomery, Alabama, The Encyclopedia of Alabama

• United States Congress. "William Russell Smith (id: S000637)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2009-04-26
• Political Graveyard bio

External links

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.