William Smith, (sculpture).

William Smith, (sculpture).

Sievers, Frederick William, 1872-1966, sculptor.

Sheppard, William Ludwell, 1833-1912, designer.

Aubry Brothers & Company, founder.

William Smith, (sculpture).

Extra Billy, (sculpture).

Governor William Smith, (sculpture).

Dedicated May 30, 1906.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 7 1/2 ft.; Base: approx. H. 9 ft. x W. 5 ft. 6 in.

(On proper left side of bronze base of sculpture:) WM SIEVERS, NY WL SHEPPARD DEST (On proper right side of bronze base of sculpture:) AUBREY BROS CO/FOUNDERS NY (On front of granite base:) WILLIAM SMITH/VIRGINIA/BORN SEP 6TH 1797 DIED MAY 18TH 1887/1836-40 1841-42/MEMBER OF VIRGINIA SENATE/1846-49/GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA/1841-43 1853-61/MEMBER OF UNITED STATES CONGRESS/1861-62/MEMBER OF CONFEDERATE STATES CONGRESS/1861-62/COLONEL 49TH VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS/1862-63/BRIG. GENERAL CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY/1863-64/MAJOR GENERAL CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY/1864-65/GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA

(On back of granite base:) THROUGH PAST THREE SCORE/HE ENTERED THE MILITARY SERVICE/AS COLONEL OF VIRGINIA INFANTRY/AND ROSE BY SHEER MERIT/TO THE RANK OF MAJOR GENERAL./AT FIRST MANASSAS, SEVEN PINES,/THE SEVEN DAYS BATTLE,/CEDAR MOUNTAIN, SECOND MANASSAS,/SHARPSBURG, FREDERICKSBURG,/CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG/HIS FIERY YET CHEERFUL COURAGE/WAS EVERYWHERE CONSPICUOUS/AND THE ONLY FAULT IMPUTED TO HIM/BY HIS SUPERIORS WAS/A TOO RECKLESS EXPOSURE OF HIS PERSON/THRICE WOUNDED AT SHARPSBURG,/HE REFUSED TO LEAVE THE FIELD, AND/REMAINED IN COMMAND OF HIS REGIMENT/UNTIL THE END OF THAT/SANGUINARY ENGAGEMENT

(On southeast side of granite base:) A MAN OF STRONG CONVICTIONS,/BRED IN THE STRICT/STATES RIGHTS SCHOOL./HE YIELDED PARAMOUNT ALLEGIANCE/TO HIS MOTHER STATE,/AND MAINTAINED WITH FEARLESS/AND IMPASSIONED ELOQUENCE,/IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES/THE SOVEREIGNTY OF VIRGINIA./WHEN THE STORM OF WAR BURST,/"HIS VOICE WAS IN HIS SWORD."

(On northwest side of granite base:) CALLED FROM THE ARMY/TO GUIDE AGAIN THE DESTINIES/OF THE COMMONWEALTH/DURING 1864-65./HE DISPLAYED SUCH ENERGY, RESOURCE,/AND UNSHAKEN RESOLUTION,/AS DREW TO HIM THE HEART/OF THE WHOLE SOUTHERN PEOPLE./TRIED BY BOTH EXTREMES OF FORTUNE/HE PROVED EQUAL TO THE TRIAL,/AND DIED AS HE HAD LIVED,/A VIRGINIAN OF VIRGINIANS. signed Founder's mark appears.

A standing portrait of William Smith dressed in a frock coat and carrying a cape draped over his proper left arm and shoulder. In his proper right hand he holds a sword. The sculpture is installed atop a tall square base in the center of a bricked plaza.

Portrait male -- Smith, William -- Full length

Occupation -- Political -- Governor

Occupation -- Political -- State Senator

Occupation -- Political -- Congressman

Occupation -- Military -- General

Outdoor Sculpture -- Virginia

Administered by Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of General Services, Division of Engineering and Buildings, 203 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219

Located Virginia State Capitol, Capitol Square, Richmond Virginia

The sculpture was unveiled on Memorial Day, May 30, 1906. F. William Sievers enlarged in bronze Sheppard's model. William Smith served as governor of Virginia from 1841-1843, as well as a U.S. Congressman, a state senator, and a general in the Confederate States Army. He earned the nickname "Extra Billy" in 1831 for repeatedly requesting extra compensation as a mail carrier from Washington to Milledgeville, Georgia. IAS files contain a newspaper article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 31, 1906; and an excerpt from Odell R. Byrd, Jr.'s "Richmond, Virginia A City of Monuments and Statues," pg. 61-62.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Landmarks Commission, 1974.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Virginia survey, 1995.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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