| William E. Smith | |
| Order: | 14th |
| Office: | Governor of Wisconsin |
| Term Start: | January 7, 1878 |
| Term End: | January 2, 1882 |
| Lieutenant: | James M. Bingham |
| Predecessor: | Harrison Ludington |
| Successor: | Jeremiah McLain Rusk |
| Order1: | 5th |
| Office1: | State Treasurer of Wisconsin |
| Term Start1: | January 1, 1866 |
| Term End1: | January 3, 1870 |
| Governor1: | Lucius Fairchild |
| Predecessor1: | Samuel D. Hastings |
| Successor1: | Henry Baetz |
| Order2: | 21st |
| Title2: | Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly |
| Term Start2: | January 11, 1871 |
| Term End2: | January 10, 1872 |
| Predecessor2: | James M. Bingham |
| Successor2: | Daniel Hall |
| State3: | Wisconsin |
| State Senate3: | Wisconsin |
| District3: | 18th |
| Term Start3: | January 13, 1864 |
| Term End3: | January 1866 |
| Predecessor3: | Joel Rich |
| Successor3: | Stoddard Judd |
| State Senate4: | Wisconsin |
| District4: | 22nd |
| Term Start4: | January 13, 1858 |
| Term End4: | January 9, 1860 |
| Predecessor4: | S. L. Rose |
| Successor4: | Benjamin Ferguson |
| State Assembly5: | Wisconsin |
| District5: | Dodge 1st |
| Term Start5: | January 11, 1871 |
| Term End5: | January 10, 1872 |
| Predecessor5: | E. Adams Fowler |
| Successor5: | Michael Adams |
| State Assembly6: | Wisconsin |
| District6: | Dodge 5th |
| Term Start6: | January 8, 1851 |
| Term End6: | January 14, 1852 |
| Predecessor6: | Malcolm Sellers |
| Successor6: | Horace Patch |
| Birth Date: | 18 June 1824 |
| Birth Place: | Inverness, Scotland |
| Death Place: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee |
| Father: | Alexander Smith |
| Mother: | Sarah (Grant) Smith |
| Profession: | merchant, politician |
William E. Smith (June 18, 1824February 13, 1883) was an American merchant and politician who served as the 14th Governor of Wisconsin, the 5th State Treasurer of Wisconsin, and the 21st Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly. He also served four years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Dodge County. In business, he was the co-founder of Smith, Roundy & Co., which became the supermarket chain Roundy's.
Smith was born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1824, the son of Alexander and Sarah (Grant) Smith. He immigrated to the United States with his family as a child, and lived with his family in New York City and Michigan.[1] He attended the common schools before working as a store clerk when he was 17. In 1846 he went to work for Lord & Taylor, and the following year he went to work for a wholesale company. In 1849 he moved to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, to become a partner in a mercantile firm.[2]
He held several political position in Wisconsin and served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly beginning in 1851, including serving as speaker during the second term.[3] Originally a Whig, he helped organize the new Republican Party in 1854. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1858 to 1865. Smith was Wisconsin state treasurer from 1866 to 1870. He was again elected to the State Assembly in 1871.[1] He was a member of the board of regents of normal schools from 1858 to 1876, and director of the state prison from 1874 to 1878.[4]
In 1872, Smith moved to Milwaukee and co-founded the Roundy's supermarket chain.[5] He was elected governor in 1877 and served two terms from 1878 to 1882.[1]
He died on February 13, 1883, in Milwaukee[4] and is interred at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee.[6]
Smith and his wife Mary Booth were married in Michigan in 1849. They had four children.[7]
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 8, 1870
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 6, 1877| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 7, 1879