William E. Smith (June 18, 1824 – February 13, 1883) was the 14th Governor of Wisconsin.
He was born in Kincardineshire, Scotland in 1824. He immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. They had lived in New York City and Michigan before settling in Fox Lake, Wisconsin in 1849.
He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly beginning in 1851, including serving as speaker during the second term. Originally a Whig, he helped organize the new Republican party in 1854. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1858 to 1865. Smith was Wisconsin state treasurer from 1866 to 1870. He was again elected to the State Assembly in 1871.
In 1872, Smith moved to Milwaukee and co-founded the Roundy's supermarket chain. He was elected governor in 1877 and served two terms from 1878 to 1882. He is buried at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee.
Famous quotes containing the words william e and/or smith:
“News of battle! News of battle!
Hark. ‘Tis ringing down the street
And the archways and the pavement
Bear the clang of hurrying feet.
News of battle. Who has brought it?”
—William Edmonstoune Aytoun (1813–1865)
“Tasting of the sweet damp woods and of the rain one inch above the meadow:
It was like feasting upon air.”
—William Jay Smith (b. 1918)