William Pruden Smith

William Pruden Smith (March 4, 1876 – January 20, 1923) was a prominent attorney and the City of Miami's ninth mayor.

Biography
Smith spent his early career in Jacksonville, Florida where he practiced law. He and his wife had a house in Miami as early as 1908. Mr. Smith moved to Miami in 1911 where he become the third member of the successful partnership, Shutts, Smith, and Bowen. He had to leave the practice in 1919 when he was elected Mayor of Miami. Later, Smith joined another law firm with former State Representative, Simon Pierre Robineau.

Notably, he was admitted to the U.S.Supreme Court Bar in 1916.

Smith was commander of the Dade County Guard, the local volunteer militia. The County Guards were authorized by the Florida legislature in 1917 to replace the Florida National Guard, which had been called up for service in the regular United States military during World War I.

He was later a captain in the US Army, assigned to General Staff during World War I.

Philanthropic and civic activities
Smith was active in the Elks Club. He is cited as having made the call to organize a veteran's group in Miami after World War I. The group became the first American Legion post of Florida, Miami's Harvey W Seeds American Legion Post #29.