William Smith facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

William, Willie, Will, Bill, or Billy Smith are all common names. Many famous people throughout history have been known by one of these names. This page will tell you about some of the interesting people named Smith, from actors and musicians to scientists and athletes.

People in Academics

Academics are people who work in universities and colleges, often as teachers or researchers.

William Smith (scholar) (1711–1787) was a classical scholar. He studied ancient Greek and Roman writings. He was also an Anglican Dean in Chester, England.
William Smith (Episcopal priest) (1727–1803) was the first leader, or Provost, of the University of Pennsylvania in the United States.
William Smith (lexicographer) (1813–1893) was an English lexicographer. This means he wrote dictionaries and books about words.
William Robertson Smith (1846–1894) was a very smart person who studied many things. He was a philologist (someone who studies language), a physicist (someone who studies how the world works), and an archaeologist (someone who studies old civilizations).
William Ramsay Smith (1859–1937) was an Australian anthropologist. Anthropologists study human societies and cultures.
William Newton-Smith (born 1943) is a philosopher from England and Canada. He studies the ideas behind science.

People in Arts and Entertainment

Many people named Smith have made a name for themselves in the world of movies, music, and art.

Actors and Comedians

Will Smith (born 1968) is a very famous American actor, rapper, and film producer. You might know him from movies like Men in Black or Aladdin, or from the TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
William "Gentleman" Smith (1730–1819) was an English actor from a long time ago.
William Smith (actor) (1933–2021) was an American actor who appeared in many films and TV shows.
Will Smith (comedian) (born 1971) is a British comedian, actor, and writer.

Art and Literature

W. Eugene Smith (1918–1978) was a famous American photojournalist. He took powerful pictures for magazines.
William Gardner Smith (1927–1974) was an African-American novelist. He wrote books about important topics.
William Jay Smith (1918–2015) was an American poet. Poets write poems.
Willi Smith (1948–1987) was an American fashion designer. He created stylish clothes.

Characters You Might Know

Some characters in TV shows and movies are also named Smith!

Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) is a character from the American TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. This character was based on the real-life actor Will Smith.
Will Smith (Home and Away) is a character from the Australian TV show Home and Away.
Billy Smith is a character in the British TV show Coronation Street.

Music

Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (1936–2011) was a famous blues drummer and singer. Blues is a type of music that started in the United States.
Willie "The Lion" Smith (1893–1973) was a jazz pianist. Jazz is another type of music known for its improvisation.
William Oscar Smith was a jazz double bassist and music educator. He taught others how to play music.

People in Business

Some people named Smith have been successful in business.

William Henry Smith (1792–1865) started a business that sold newspapers and books. His son, William Henry Smith (1825–1891), continued the business and also became a politician.
William Reardon Smith (1856–1935) was a British shipowner. He owned many ships that carried goods across the sea.

People in the Military

Many Smiths have served in the military, protecting their countries.

Sir Sidney Smith (Royal Navy officer) (William Sidney Smith, 1764–1840) was a British admiral. An admiral is a very high-ranking officer in the navy.
William Alexander Smith (Boys' Brigade) (1854–1914) was the founder of the Boys' Brigade, a Christian youth organization.
William Farrar Smith (1824–1903) was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
William F. Smith (US Army Air Corps) was a pilot whose B-25 bomber accidentally crashed into the Empire State Building in 1945.
William Smith (Virginia governor) (1797–1887) was a governor of Virginia and a general in the Confederate army during the American Civil War.
William W. Smith (admiral) (1888–1966) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II.

People in Science and Architecture

Bill Smith (Motorola engineer) (1929–1993) was one of the people who helped create Six Sigma, a method used to improve how businesses work.
William Smith (architect) (1817–1891) was a Scottish architect. Architects design buildings.
William Smith (geologist) (1769–1839) was an English geologist. He is known as the "Father of English Geology" because he created the first detailed geological map of a country. Geologists study the Earth's rocks and history.
William Wright Smith (1875–1956) was a Scottish botanist and horticulturalist. Botanists study plants, and horticulturalists grow them.

People in Sports

Many athletes across different sports have been named Smith.

American Football

Billy Ray Smith Jr. (born 1961) and Billy Ray Smith Sr. (1935–2001) were both American football players.
Will Smith (defensive end) (1981–2016) was an American football defensive end.

Association Football (Soccer)

Billy Smith (footballer, born 1895) (1895–1951) was an English footballer who played for Huddersfield Town.
Will Smith (footballer, born 1998) is an English footballer who plays for Harrogate Town.

Baseball

Bill Smith (baseball executive) (born 1958) was the general manager for the Minnesota Twins baseball team.
Will Smith (pitcher) (born 1989) is an American pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Will Smith (catcher) (born 1995) is an American baseball catcher.

Basketball

Willie Smith (basketball) (born 1953) was an American professional basketball player.

Cricket

Will Smith (cricketer) (born 1982) is an English cricketer. Cricket is a popular sport, especially in England and other Commonwealth countries.

Rugby Football

Billy Smith (rugby league, born 1942) is an Australian rugby league player.
Will Smith (rugby league) (born 1992) is another Australian rugby league player.

Other Sports

Bill Smith (swimmer) (1924–2013) won two gold medals in swimming at the 1948 Olympic Games.
Billy Smith (ice hockey) (born 1950) is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender.
Mysterious Billy Smith (1871–1937) was a Canadian boxer.
William Smith (cyclist) (1893–1958) was a South African Olympic cyclist.
William Smith (wrestler) (1928–2018) won a gold medal in wrestling at the 1952 Olympics.
Willie Smith (sprinter) (1956–2020) was an American 400 metres runner.

People in Politics

Many people named Smith have been involved in politics, helping to lead and make decisions for their communities and countries.

Australia

William Forgan Smith (1887–1953) was the Premier of Queensland, an Australian state, from 1932 to 1942. A Premier is like a state governor.

Canada

Amor De Cosmos (William Alexander Smith, 1825–1897) was the Premier of British Columbia, a Canadian province.
Bill Smith (Alberta politician) (born 1935) was the mayor of Edmonton, a major city in Canada.

United Kingdom

William Smith (abolitionist) (1756–1835) was a British Member of Parliament (MP). He was also an abolitionist, meaning he worked to end slavery. He was the grandfather of Florence Nightingale, a famous nurse.
William Henry Smith (1825–1891) was a British MP and served as a Cabinet Minister, holding important roles like First Lord of the Admiralty.

United States

William Smith (Maryland politician) (1728–1814) was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland.
William Smith (South Carolina senator) (1762–1840) was a U.S. Senator from South Carolina. Senators are elected to represent their state in the national government.
William Smith (Virginia governor) (1797–1887) was a Governor of Virginia. Governors are the leaders of a state.
William Alden Smith (1859–1932) was a U.S. Representative and Senator from Michigan.
William E. Smith (politician) (1824–1883) was the Governor of Wisconsin.
William French Smith (1917–1990) was the U.S. Attorney General, a top legal officer in the government.
William Hugh Smith (1826–1899) was the governor of Alabama.

Other Notable People

William Smith (geologist) (1769–1839) was an English geologist. He is known as the "Father of English Geology" because he created the first detailed geological map of a country. Geologists study the Earth's rocks and history.
William Smith (mariner) (1790–1847) was a British sailor who discovered the South Shetland Islands, a group of islands near Antarctica.