William Rudolph Smith

William R. Smith
5th Attorney General of Wisconsin
In office
January 7, 1856 – January 4, 1858
GovernorWilliam A. Barstow
Arthur MacArthur Sr.
Coles Bashford
Preceded byGeorge Baldwin Smith
Succeeded byGabriel Bouck
1st Adjutant General of Wisconsin
In office
May 29, 1848 – April 1, 1851
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byWilliam A. Barstow
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 17th district
In office
December 2, 1823 – December 7, 1824
Preceded byWilliam Davidson
Succeeded byChristian Garber
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the Centre and Clearfield district
In office
December 7, 1819 – December 3, 1822
Preceded byJacob Kryder
Succeeded byJohn Mitchell
and Martin Hoover
Personal details
Born(1787-08-31)August 31, 1787
Trappe, Pennsylvania
DiedAugust 22, 1868(1868-08-22) (aged 80)
Quincy, Illinois
Resting placeGraceland Cemetery
Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Federalist (before 1836)
Spouses
  • Eliza Anthony
    (m. 1809; died 1821)
  • Mary Hamilton Van Dyke
    (m. 1823)
Children
  • with Eliza Anthony
  • William Anthony Smith
  • (b. 1809; died 1887)
  • with Mary Van Dyke
  • Penelope C. "Nellie" (Henry)
  • (b. 1830; died 1852)
  • Richard Moore Smith
  • (b. 1828; died 1888)
  • John Montgomery Smith
  • (b. 1834; died 1903)
  • Maria Letitia Smith
  • (b. 1836; died 1852)
Parents
  • William Moore Smith (father)
  • Anne (Rudolph) Smith (mother)
Professionlawyer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/service
RankMajor General
Commands62nd Pennsylvania Reserves
Battles/warsWar of 1812

William Rudolph Smith (August 31, 1787 – August 22, 1868) was an American lawyer, politician, pioneer, and historian from Pennsylvania who served as the 5th Attorney General of Wisconsin, the first President of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and the first Adjutant General of Wisconsin.

Earlier, while living in Pennsylvania, he served as a Federalist member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate, and served for many years in the Pennsylvania Militia, including service as Colonel of the 62nd Pennsylvania Reserves in the War of 1812.