Anglican Priest. Educator. Benjamin Franklin asked him to teach at a new school to be established in Philadelphia. Smith came to the city to teach natural philosophy and became the first provost (first president) of the College of Philadelphia, a position he held from 1754 to 1779. Because of a misconception of Smith as a loyalist, the Pennsylvania legislature established the new University of Pennsylvania in 1779. Smith served on the Philadelphia Committee of Correspondence in 1774 serving with such notables as John Dickinson, Samuel Miles, and Joseph Reed. He moved to Maryland and became the first president of Washington College. Later, after the revolution ended, and Smith was no longer seen as a loyalist, the College of Philadelphia merged with the University of Pennsylvania, and Smith was the new school's provost from 1802 to 1803. In 1757, Smith was the editor of The American Magazine and Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies which was published by fellow Philadelphian William Bradford.
∼Apparentely William was reinterred to Laurel Hill Cemetery 18 August 1854, with his sister, Isabella Smith d 1801, his sons William Moore Smith and Richard Penn Smith.
Philadelphia City Death Certificates
Gender: Male
Race:
Age: 80
Estimated Birth Year: 1723
Film Number: 1011824
Digital Folder Number: 004029875
Image Number: 00244
Reference Number: p 241
Contributed by volunteer Dead Ringer:
16 May 1803
H.D. [Henry Drinker] received a note of invitation for him and family "to attend the Funeral of the Reverend Doctor Smith from his son's house at the corner of Chestnut and
Fifth streets". [Dr. William Smith, first Provost of the College of Philadelphia].
-- Source: Genealogical Gleanings from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker, 1759 to 1807, Page 620 in Pennsylvania Vital Records, Vol I, by the Genealogical Publishing Company, Incorporated in 1983
William was reinterred at Laurel Hill on August 18, 1854, Find A Grave Memorial #29096207.
∼Apparentely William was reinterred to Laurel Hill Cemetery 18 August 1854, with his sister, Isabella Smith d 1801, his sons William Moore Smith and Richard Penn Smith.
Philadelphia City Death Certificates
Gender: Male
Race:
Age: 80
Estimated Birth Year: 1723
Film Number: 1011824
Digital Folder Number: 004029875
Image Number: 00244
Reference Number: p 241
Contributed by volunteer Dead Ringer:
16 May 1803
H.D. [Henry Drinker] received a note of invitation for him and family "to attend the Funeral of the Reverend Doctor Smith from his son's house at the corner of Chestnut and
Fifth streets". [Dr. William Smith, first Provost of the College of Philadelphia].
-- Source: Genealogical Gleanings from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker, 1759 to 1807, Page 620 in Pennsylvania Vital Records, Vol I, by the Genealogical Publishing Company, Incorporated in 1983
William was reinterred at Laurel Hill on August 18, 1854, Find A Grave Memorial #29096207.
Anglican Priest. Educator. Benjamin Franklin asked him to teach at a new school to be established in Philadelphia. Smith came to the city to teach natural philosophy and became the first provost (first president) of the College of Philadelphia, a position he held from 1754 to 1779. Because of a misconception of Smith as a loyalist, the Pennsylvania legislature established the new University of Pennsylvania in 1779. Smith served on the Philadelphia Committee of Correspondence in 1774 serving with such notables as John Dickinson, Samuel Miles, and Joseph Reed. He moved to Maryland and became the first president of Washington College. Later, after the revolution ended, and Smith was no longer seen as a loyalist, the College of Philadelphia merged with the University of Pennsylvania, and Smith was the new school's provost from 1802 to 1803. In 1757, Smith was the editor of The American Magazine and Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies which was published by fellow Philadelphian William Bradford.
∼Apparentely William was reinterred to Laurel Hill Cemetery 18 August 1854, with his sister, Isabella Smith d 1801, his sons William Moore Smith and Richard Penn Smith.
Philadelphia City Death Certificates
Gender: Male
Race:
Age: 80
Estimated Birth Year: 1723
Film Number: 1011824
Digital Folder Number: 004029875
Image Number: 00244
Reference Number: p 241
Contributed by volunteer Dead Ringer:
16 May 1803
H.D. [Henry Drinker] received a note of invitation for him and family "to attend the Funeral of the Reverend Doctor Smith from his son's house at the corner of Chestnut and
Fifth streets". [Dr. William Smith, first Provost of the College of Philadelphia].
-- Source: Genealogical Gleanings from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker, 1759 to 1807, Page 620 in Pennsylvania Vital Records, Vol I, by the Genealogical Publishing Company, Incorporated in 1983
William was reinterred at Laurel Hill on August 18, 1854, Find A Grave Memorial #29096207.
∼Apparentely William was reinterred to Laurel Hill Cemetery 18 August 1854, with his sister, Isabella Smith d 1801, his sons William Moore Smith and Richard Penn Smith.
Philadelphia City Death Certificates
Gender: Male
Race:
Age: 80
Estimated Birth Year: 1723
Film Number: 1011824
Digital Folder Number: 004029875
Image Number: 00244
Reference Number: p 241
Contributed by volunteer Dead Ringer:
16 May 1803
H.D. [Henry Drinker] received a note of invitation for him and family "to attend the Funeral of the Reverend Doctor Smith from his son's house at the corner of Chestnut and
Fifth streets". [Dr. William Smith, first Provost of the College of Philadelphia].
-- Source: Genealogical Gleanings from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker, 1759 to 1807, Page 620 in Pennsylvania Vital Records, Vol I, by the Genealogical Publishing Company, Incorporated in 1983
William was reinterred at Laurel Hill on August 18, 1854, Find A Grave Memorial #29096207.
Gravesite Details
Removed from the Smith family country home at Falls of the Schuylkill on April 30, 1896 and reinterred in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
