William Smith, known during his theatrical career as "Gentleman" Smith, was born in London, educated at Eton, and admitted to St. John's College, Cambridge. In 1767, after leaving Cambridge following an incident during which he drew a pistol on the proctor, Smith returned to London, became a pupil of Spranger Barry, and made his first appearance as the title hero in Nathaniel Lee's Theodosius at Covent Garden in January, 1753. In the following year Smith married Elizabeth Montagu Courtenay, the second daughter of viscount Hinchingbroke and sister of the fourth Earl of Sandwich. The family objected strongly to the match, and Smith reportedly offered to retire from acting were he guaranteed an annuity equal to his earnings. Elizabeth Smith died in 1762; Smith subsequently married a widow named Margaret.
In the spring of 1774, Smith ended his career at Covent Garden in the role of Macbeth, announcing his intention to retire and to devote himself to a country life in Bury St. Edmunds. Instead, he went to Paris with Mrs. Hartley, who had been playing opposite him as Lady Macbeth. Several months later he returned to England and to his second wife, and joined Garrick's Drury Lane Theatre. He appeared there until his retirement in 1788, winning particular fame for his interpretation of Charles Surface in Sheridan's School for Scandal, a role he originated.
Upon retiring, Smith did settle at Bury St. Edmunds, returning to the stage only once, to perform Charles Surface in a benefit at Covent Garden. He devoted himself to fox-hunting and horseracing, and died at home in 1819.
From the guide to the William Smith papers, 1760-1823, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)
