Papers : 1780-1805.

            Hon. David William Smith was the first Surveyor-General of Upper Canada and held the office from 1800-1804.   He had served, previously, as Acting Surveyor-General, having been appointed to that position in 1792 by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe.  This appointment followed a career as an officer in the 5th Regiment of Foot.  In 1792, David William Smith was elected as a member of the House of Assembly, and returned to office again in 1796 and 1800.   He was chosen Speaker of the House in 1797 and in 1801.   In 1796, he was sworn in as a member extraordinary of the Executive Council.   His interest in military affairs was maintained through the commissions he held in the Lincoln and York militias.   In 1802, he visited England, and although he did not retire from the office of Surveyor General until 1804, he did not return to Upper Canada.   He was created a baronet in 1821.            

            
The Papers of Sir David William Smith have not been microfilmed in their entirety. Only the following selections have been included in the microfilm: miscellaneous documents; orders in council; memoranda of meetings of the Executive Council, etc., 1792-1800; general correspondence, including letters from Sir Alured Clark, John Elmsley, James Givins, Sir John Johnson, E.B. Littlehaler, William Maitland, Robert Mathews, William Osgoode, Peter Russell, and others, 1780-1805 (generally grouped by correspondant); and election expenses in Upper Canada, 1792-1800.

The Orderly Book, 1793-1795, of Lt. Col. John Smith of the 5th Regiment of Foot, while commanding officer at Fort Niagara, is included in the microfilm reel. Lt. Col. John Smith was the father of Sir David William Smith and the Orderly Book is part of the D.W. Smith Collection.
            

            Biographical information for Sir David William Smith and Lt. Col. John Smith, along with a general description of the D.W. Smith Papers, is to be found at the beginning of the reel.
The biographical information and the description of the Papers are available in print and as a PDF under the electronic finding aid section.