William Alexander Smith (October 27, 1854 - May 10, 1914) was born in Thurso, Scotland. At age 19 he joined the church and also became a Lance Corporal in the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers.
By 1883 he had advanced to the rank of Lieutenant and was a Sunday School teacher. It was a combination of these two activities that led him to start the Boys' Brigade on October 4th 1883 at Free Church Mission Hall, North Woodside Road, Glasgow. In 1909 he was knighted by King Edward VII for his service to Boys.
He died on May 10th 1914 and was buried in Glasgow. There is a memorial stone to him in St. Paul's Cathedral.