William Waugh Smith, Class of 1871 and R-MC President 1886-1897

Smith enlisted as a private in Co. C of the 49th VA Infantry on an unknown date. His father was editor of the Richmond Enquirer newspaper during the war and the son wrote for the paper periodically through the war. He was wounded in the finger at the battle of Seven Pines, VA. Smith was again wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg and left on the field, believed to be mortally wounded. His death was reported in his father's newspaper, the Enquirer. Smith was taken prisoner and hospitalized in Baltimore, MD. He was paroled on August 23, 1863 and transferred to City Point, VA for exchange the following day.

After the war, he attended the University of Virginia and then Randolph-Macon College, graduating in 1871. After teaching for several years at Bethel Academy in Fauquier County, VA, he became a professor at Randolph-Macon College in 1878 teaching first "moral and mental philosphy," then Greek, and then Latin. He became president of the College in 1886 serving until 1897, when he became chancellor of the Radnolph-Macon System, which included several preparatory academies and a woman's college in addition to R-MC. Smith died on November 29, 1912 and is buried in Richmond, VA in Hollywood Cemetery.