"S" is for Smith, William Loughton (1758-1812). Lawyer, congressman, diplomat. In 1770, Smith was sent to Europe for schooling and remained there throughout the Revolutionary War. Returning to South Carolina, he was elected to the General Assembly and, in 1788, to the U.S. House of Representatives. His support for a stronger central government placed him squarely in the Federalist Party. He advocated Alexander Hamilton’s proposal that the central government fund the national debt, assume state debts, and form a national bank. Despite being a speculator in public securities, he served four terms in Congress. During the 1796 presidential election Smith published a series of satirical articles attacking Thomas Jefferson. In 1796, he was appointed minister to Portugal where he served until 1801. Returning to Charleston, William Loughton Smith resumed his law practice and invested in land.
"S" is for Smith, William Loughton (1758-1812)
