William Smith (Virginia governor)
| William Smith | |
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| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Fauquier County | |
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In office 1876–1877 Alongside H.B. Kerrick |
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| 30th and 35th Governor of Virginia | |
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In office January 1, 1864 – May 9, 1865 |
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| Lieutenant | Samuel Price |
| Preceded by | John Letcher |
| Succeeded by | Francis Harrison Pierpont |
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In office January 1, 1846 – January 1, 1849 |
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| Preceded by | James McDowell |
| Succeeded by | John B. Floyd |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 7th district |
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In office March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1861 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas H. Bayly |
| Succeeded by | Charles H. Upton |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 13th district |
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In office December 6, 1841 – March 3, 1843 |
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| Preceded by | Linn Banks |
| Succeeded by | George W. Hopkins |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from Culpeper, Madison, Orange, Rappahannock and Greene Counties* | |
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In office 1836–1840 |
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| Preceded by | Daniel F. Slaughter |
| Succeeded by | John Woolfolk |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 6, 1797 Marengo, King George County, Virginia |
| Died | May 18, 1887 (aged 89) Warrenton, Virginia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Bell |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Nickname(s) | "Extra Billy" |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States of America
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| Service/branch |
 Confederate States Army
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| Years of service | 1861–1863 |
| Rank |
 Major General
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| Battles/wars |
American Civil War *Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861) *First Battle of Manassas *Battle of Seven Pines *Seven Days Battles *Second Battle of Manassas *Battle of Sharpsburg *Second Battle of Fredericksburg *Battle of Gettysburg |
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William "Extra Billy" Smith (September 6, 1797 – May 18, 1887) was a lawyer, congressman, the 30th and 35th Governor of Virginia, and a Major General in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. On his appointment in January 1863, at the age of 65, Smith was the oldest Confederate general to hold field command in the war.
Smith was born in Marengo, King George County, Virginia. He attended private schools in Virginia and Plainfield Academy in Connecticut. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Culpeper, Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1818. Two years later, he married Elizabeth Hansbrough Bell. They would have eleven children, several of whom died in infancy or as young adults.
He established a line of United States mail and passenger post coaches through Virginia in 1827 and then expanded the business into the Carolinas and Georgia in 1831. It was in this role that he received his nickname. Given a contract by the administration of President Andrew Jackson to deliver mail between Washington, D.C., and Milledgeville, Georgia (then the state capital), Smith extended it with numerous spur routes, all generating extra fees. During an investigation of the Post Office department, Smith's extra fees were publicized by U.S. Senator Benjamin W. Leigh, and he became known as "Extra Billy" in both the North and South.
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