William Hugh Smith

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William Hugh Smith
21st Governor of Alabama
In office July 24, 1868 – November 26, 1870
Lieutenant	Andrew J. Applegate (1868–70) Vacant (1870)
Preceded by	Wager Swayne
Succeeded by	Robert B. Lindsay
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office 1855–1859
Personal details
Born	William Hugh Smith (1826-04-26)April 26, 1826 New York City, U.S.
Died	January 1, 1899(1899-01-01) (aged 72) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican Democratic

William Hugh Smith (April 26, 1826 – January 1, 1899) was an American planter and politician, the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama. He was the first Republican elected as governor in the state, serving from 1868 to 1870 during the period of Reconstruction.^[1] A former enslaver, he had opposed secession from the United States on the grounds it would imperil slavery. He appeared driven by practical consideration rather than principled opposition to slavery.