John William Smith (politician)

John William Smith (November 4, 1792 – January 12, 1845) was an American and Texian political figure, the first mayor of San Antonio under the Republic of Texas.

He switched his first and middle names while in Texas, supposedly because William was difficult to pronounce in the Spanish language.

He served as in the city as military storekeeper until 1835 also working as a surveyor (like his Texas contemporaries; James Kerr, Byrd Lockhart, and Arthur Swift) and a civil engineer.

[citation needed] Through time, Smith had become upset by the occupation of San Antonio by Mexican Colonel Domingo Ugartechea.

He was arrested with A. C. Holmes and Samuel Maverick[3] and was saved by his wife's pleas,[citation needed] which enabled him to escape and guide the final assault in the Siege of Bexar.

On February 23, Smith and John Sutherland were sent by Travis as scouts to assess the Mexican Army's strength and position.

Before the final Battle of the Alamo and its fall, William B. Travis sent Smith with a message for Washington-on-the-Brazos, allowing him to escape the fate that all Texas soldiers defending San Antonio ultimately succumbed to.

After delivering the message, he returned with men to fight in the battle but heard no gunfire as their horses drank at Cibolo Creek.