William Burns Smith

Life

Smith was born in Glasgow on November 11, 1844, to William Wallace Smith and Anne Simpson. He and his parents moved to Philadelphia when William was 7. At age 11 he became a wood-carver’s apprentice. At age 25, Smith joined the Pennsylvania National Guard and became major of the Veteran Corps 14 years later. He was part of the force that put down the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 in Pittsburgh. In 1881, he was elected to represent Philadelphia’s 28th Ward in Select Council. A year later, he became president of the Select Council, and was inaugurated Mayor in 1884. He made efforts to reform the city police force. Smith died in 1917.