William Russell Smith
Encyclopedia
William Russell Smith was a prominent Alabama
politician served in both the United States Congress
and the Confederate Congress.
. 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 a campaign against the Creek
Indians. 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 served in the United States House of Representatives
from 1851 to 1857, representing the Fourth District. During the American Civil War
, he represented Alabama in the First Confederate Congress
and the Second Confederate Congress
from 1862 to 1865.
After the war, he resumed his law practice and served as president of the University of Alabama
from 1869 to 1871.
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
politician served in both the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and the Confederate Congress.
Biography
Smith was born in Logan County, KentuckyLogan County, Kentucky
Logan County is a county located in the southwest area of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 26,573. Its county seat is Russellville...
. He moved to Alabama at an early age and attended the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. Smith was admitted to the bar in 1835. The next year he served as a captain of state troops
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
in a campaign against the Creek
Creek people
The Muscogee , also known as the Creek or Creeks, are a Native American people traditionally from the southeastern United States. Mvskoke is their name in traditional spelling. The modern Muscogee live primarily in Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida...
Indians. He served as Mayor of Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
in 1839 and as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
from 1841 to 1843. He later briefly served as a state judge from 1850 to 1851.
Smith served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1851 to 1857, representing the Fourth District. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he represented Alabama in the First Confederate Congress
First Confederate Congress
The First Confederate Congress was the first regular term of the legislature of the Confederate States of America. Members of the First Confederate Congress were chosen in elections mostly held on 6 November 1861.-Sessions:...
and the Second Confederate Congress
Second Confederate Congress
The Second Confederate Congress was the second and last regular term of the legislature of the Confederate States of America. Members of the Second Confederate Congress were chosen in elections held at various dates in 1863 and 1864...
from 1862 to 1865.
After the war, he resumed his law practice and served as president of the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
from 1869 to 1871.