William Pruden Smith Explained

William P Smith
Birth Date:March 4, 1876
Birth Place:Dalton, Georgia, US
Death Date:January 20, 1923
Death Place:Atlanta, Georgia, US
Order:9th
Office:Mayor of Miami
Term Start:November 1919
Term End:July 1921[1]
Predecessor:J.W. Watson
Successor:C.D. Leffler
Spouse:May Garner Smith
Children:William Pruden Smith Jr, Katherine Smith
Profession:Attorney
Branch:United States Army
Serviceyears:1918-1919
Rank:Captain

William Pruden Smith (March 4, 1876 – January 20, 1923) was a prominent attorney and the City of Miami's ninth mayor.

Biography

Smith spent his early career in Jacksonville, Florida where he practiced law. He and his wife had a house in Miami as early as 1908. Mr. Smith moved to Miami in 1911 where he become the third member of the successful partnership, Shutts, Smith, and Bowen. He had to leave the practice in 1919 when he was elected Mayor of Miami.[2] Later, Smith joined another law firm with former State Representative, Simon Pierre Robineau.[3]

Notably, he was admitted to the U.S.Supreme Court Bar in 1916.[4]

Smith was commander of the Dade County Guard, the local volunteer militia. The County Guards were authorized by the Florida legislature in 1917 to replace the Florida National Guard, which had been called up for service in the regular United States military during World War I.[5]

He was later a captain in the US Army, assigned to General Staff during World War I.[6]

Philanthropic and civic activities

Smith was active in the Elks Club. He is cited as having made the call to organize a veteran's group in Miami after World War I. The group became the first American Legion post of Florida, Miami's Harvey W Seeds American Legion Post #29.[7]

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: City Manager's Report to City . 1926 . City of Miami . 6 .
  2. Web site: Shutts & Bowen LLP, A Centennial History . Shutts & Bowen LLP . September 4, 2023.
  3. Book: Martindale's American Law Directory . 1921 . New York . 26 September 2023.
  4. Book: Journal of the Supreme Court, US . October 21, 2023 . 26 September 2023.
  5. Web site: Florida Memory . Florida Memory . 26 September 2023.
  6. Staff . William Pruden Smith Dead . Miami Herald . January 21, 1923 . 1 . 4.
  7. Book: Morales . Ralph . Harvey W Seeds American Legion Post #29 History . 2018 . 978-0692128497 . 1st . September 4, 2023 .