General william smith biography

William "Extra Billy" Smith

William “Extra Billy” Smith was born on September 6, 1797, in King George County, Virginia. As a young child, Smith attended private schools in his home county, as well as in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He also attended the Plainfield Academy at the onset of the War of 1812. After the War of 1812, Smith practiced law in 1818 in Culpeper, Virginia. 

Dissatisfied with his career as a lawyer, Smith began a mail and passenger stagecoach line. In 1831, Smith was contracted by President Andrew Jackson to run a mail and passenger stagecoach line from Washington, D.C. to Milledgeville, Georgia the state’s capital at the time. Smith saw this as an opportunity to gain extra money from the route and established small routes branching from the mainline. These branching routes generated extra fees directly back to Smith, and he was known nationally as “Extra Billy” Smith.  

In 1836, Smith was elected as a Virginia senator in the state legislature. He resigned fr

William Smith (Virginia governor)

American politician (1797–1887)

William Smith

In office
1876–1877
Alongside H. B. Kerrick
In office
January 1, 1864 – May 9, 1865 (Disputed)
LieutenantSamuel Price
Preceded byJohn Letcher
Succeeded byFrancis Harrison Pierpont
In office
January 1, 1846 – January 1, 1849
Preceded byJames McDowell
Succeeded byJohn B. Floyd
In office
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1861
Preceded byThomas H. Bayly
Succeeded byCharles H. Upton
In office
December 6, 1841 – March 3, 1843
Preceded byLinn Banks
Succeeded byGeorge W. Hopkins
In office
1836–1840
Preceded byDaniel F. Slaughter
Succeeded byJohn Woolfolk
Born(1797-09-06)September 6, 1797
Marengo, King George County, Virginia, US
DiedMay 18, 1887(1887-05-18) (aged 89)
Warrenton, Virginia, US
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseElizabeth Bell
ProfessionPolitician, Lawyer
Signature
AllegianceConfederate States
Branch/serviceConfederate States Army
Years of servi
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE ROTC

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
Southwest Texas State University - BA - History
Touro University - MBA - Business
U.S. Army War College - MS - Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Army War College (AWC)
ASLDP-Basic
ADC
ASLDP-Intermediate
ASLDP-Alumni

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S) None Recorded




US DECORATIONS AND BADGES
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Kosovo Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, M Device and Numeral 2)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
Army Superior Unit Award

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEV

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