William Alexander Smith

Sir William Alexander Smith (27 October 1854 – 10 May 1914), the founder of the Boys' Brigade, was born in Pennyland House, Thurso, Scotland.

Early life and education Smith was born on 27 October 1854 at home in Pennyland House in Thurso, Scotland, within his family's ancestral estate. He was the eldest son of Major David Smith (1824-1868) and his wife Harriet (or Henrietta). He was one of five children: with older sister Katherine, two younger brothers, Donald (1856) and David (1860), and sister Henrietta (1864). His younger sister lived only three years.

His family had been involved in the military, with his grandfather, William, being in the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot in the Napoleonic Wars. His father had been in the Dragoon Guards in Southern Africa, becoming Major in the Caithness Volunteers when he left the army. Two sons were to follow, George in 1889 and Douglas in 1891. Amelia died in 1898 in Partick, aged 40. With her death, William's sister, Kate, moved in to care for the young boys.

Smith was to marry again in 1906 to Hannah Ranken Campbell. She died the following year, on 20 July 1907, aged 51.

Smith was a keen amateur fisherman and sailor, and was a member of the Western Club of Glasgow. He became an Honorary Colonel of the Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers, and retired from that role in 1908. He was transferred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital , where he died at 6:30am on the 10th May 1914. After the committal all the Boys of the Company walked past in single file and each Boy dropped a white flower into the open grave. A memorial service was also held in St Andrew's Hall in Glasgow on 17th May.

There is a memorial stone in honour of him in St Paul's Cathedral, London, and in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. There is also a Memorial Plaque in Glasgow Cathedral, it is at the Northwest corner of the nave.