Background
He was born on November 8, 1755 in New York, United States. His father, John Smith, was a wealthy merchant. His mother, Margaret Stephens, belonged to a Loyalist family.
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He was born on November 8, 1755 in New York, United States. His father, John Smith, was a wealthy merchant. His mother, Margaret Stephens, belonged to a Loyalist family.
After graduating from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1774, William studied law with Samuel Jones of New York.
Smith entered the army at the outbreak of the Revolution, being appointed aide to General Sullivan with the rank of major in August 1776. He was present at the battle of Long Island, and when the American troops withdrew across East River on the night of August 29, it is said that he was one of the last to leave, accompanying Washington in his barge. In October, although suffering from a wound received at Harlem Heights, he destroyed the bridge at Throgs Neck, and thus helped to prevent Howe from outflanking the American army.
After participating in the battle of White Plains, he accompanied the Revolutionary forces on the retreat across New Jersey. Gallantry at Trenton won him a lieutenant-colonelcy in William R. Lee's regiment. In 1777 he served under Putnam in New York; in 1778, fought at Monmouth and Newport; in 1779, marched with Sullivan against the Indians; and in 1780, took part in the battle of Springfield.
After acting as inspector and adjutant to a corps of light infantry under Lafayette, he was honored in July 1781 by an appointment as aide to Washington, performed important duties at Yorktown and was charged with supervising the evacuaction of New York by the British in accordance with the treaty of peace. He was appointed secretary of legation in London in 1785.
In company with Francisco de Miranda, he toured the Continent, visiting Prussia in order to study the army organization of Frederick the Great, and was later sent on a diplomatic mission to Spain and Portugal.
He returned to the United States in 1788 and plunged heavily into land speculation and politics. He held successively the offices of federal marshal, supervisor of the revenue, and surveyor of the port of New York. When war with France impended in 1798, Adams nominated him as adjutant-general, but the nomination was rejected by the Senate largely owing to the interference of Timothy Pickering, and Smith was obliged to content himself with the command of the 12th Infantry. In 1806 he was prosecuted for complicity in the fitting out of Miranda's filibustering expedition to South America and was acquitted but his political career was seriously affected.
He returned to his farm in Lebanon, New York, where he devoted himself to agriculture until 1812 when he was elected to Congress as a Federalist, serving from 1813 until his death at Lebanon.
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He was the pattern of the eighteenth-century gentleman, handsome, brave, urbane, and equally at ease at camp or court.
He was married, on June 12, 1786, to Abigail Amelia, daughter of the American minister, John Adams, 1735-1826. His wife preceded him in death. They had three children, two sons and a daughter.