Life and Career
Spry was born at Windsor, Berkshire, England. He emigrated to Utah Territory with his parents at the age of eleven.
He served as governor of Utah from 1909 to 1917. He was a Republican. Spry was a strong opponent of Prohibition, and vetoed two bills that would have implemented this. From 1921 to 1929 Spry served as commissioner of Public Lands.
In 1885, Spry was called as an LDS Church missionary and went to serve in the Southern States Mission. From 1888 to 1891 (continuing his time from being a regular missionary), Spry served as president of the Southern States Mission.
In 1890, during his mission, Spry received permission from the leaders of the church to return briefly to Salt Lake City where he married Mary Alice Wrathal.
In 1894, Spry was elected county collector in Tooele County, Utah. In 1902 Spry was elected to the Utah State Legislature and in 1905 he was appointed one of the members of the Utah state board of land commissioners.
Spry died in Washington, D. C. in 1929 when he was still serving as the Federal Commissioner of Public Lands. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Read more about this topic: William Spry
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