Smith, William, 1728-1814

Dates:

Birth 1728-04-12

Death 1814-03-27

Gender:

Male

Nationality: Britons, Americans

Language: English

Biographical notes:

William Smith (April 12, 1728 – March 27, 1814) was an American merchant and politician. He served as a Delegate to the Continental Congress and as a member of the United States House of Representatives in the First Congress.

Born in Donegal Township of Lancaster County in the Province of Pennsylvania, Smith moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1761. He was appointed a member of the committee of correspondence in 1774, and a member of the committee of observation in 1775. Smith was also one of a committee appointed by the Continental Congress to constitute a naval board in 1777.

Smith was chosen as a Maryland delegate to the Continental Congress in 1777. He subsequently pursued a career as a merchant, and then was elected to the 1st United States Congress, from March 4, 1789, until March 3, 1791. Smith was the First Auditor of the United States Treasury from July 16, 1791, to November 27, 1791. He returned to local politics to be elected to the Maryland Senate in 1801. Smith died in Baltimore and was interred in the Old Westminster Graveyard.