Henry Louis Smith

Henry Louis Smith
9th President of Davidson College
In office 1901–1912
Preceded by	John Bunyan Shearer
Succeeded by	William Joseph Martin Jr.
17th President of Washington and Lee University
In office 1912–1929
Personal details
Born	(1859-07-30)July 30, 1859 Greensboro, North Carolina
Died	February 17, 1951(1951-02-17) (aged 91) Greensboro, North Carolina
Education	Davidson College University of Virginia
Profession	Professor
Signature

Henry Louis Smith (July 30, 1859 – February 27, 1951) was an American academic administrator, educator, and physicist. He was president of Davidson College and of Washington and Lee University. He was a pioneer in the use of the X-ray machine and psychological warfare.

Early life

Smith was born on July 30, 1859 in Greensboro, North Carolina. His was the son of Mary Kelly (née Watson) and Dr. Jacob Henry Smith, a Presbyterian minister. He graduated from Presbyterian High School, operated by his uncle in Greensboro. Smith enrolled Davidson College in 1877, graduating in1881. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and Phi Beta Kappa.

He received an MA in physics from the University of Virginia in 1887, followed by a Ph.D. in physics in 1890.

Career

Starting in 1881, Smith was principal of Selma Academy for five years. He then returned to Davidson as a professor of natural science (physics and astronomy). During his time as a professor, Smith and his students created one of the first X-ray images in America. However, he took two leave of absences to complete a Master's and Ph.D. degrees.

Smith became the president of Davidson College in 1901. He was the college's first president who was not a Presbyterian minister. During his administration, Smith oversaw construction and infrastructure projects, including the establishment of the first electric light plant in town and the construction of several dormitories and academic buildings.

Smith left Davidson in 1912 to become president of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. While there, he help found Omicron Delta Kappa honor society.

During World War I, Smith invented a way to use air-carried balloons to drop propaganda messages in Austria and Germany. For this pioneering invention in psychological warfare, he received an award from the American Security League. President Woodrow Wilson credited Smith with doing the most to bring World War I to a close.

Smith retired and became president emeritus in 1929.

Personal life

Smith married Julia Lorraine DuPuy of Davidson in 1896. She was the daughter of John James DuPuy, who was physician. The couple had eight children.

Smith was a Presbyterian elder; he also taught Bible classes. He was a popular public speaker, wrote a local newspaper column, and published This Troubled Century, in 1947.

After retiring, Smith returned to Greensboro. He died at his home in Greensboro on February 27, 1951. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

External links

• Information about the x-ray photograph