Uriah Smith

Uriah Smith (May 3, 1832 – March 6, 1903) was a Seventh-day Adventist author, minister, educator, and theologian who is best known as the longest serving editor of the Review and Herald (now the Adventist Review) for over 50 years. Uriah Smith was an extremely versatile and creative individual. Some of his lesser known contributions include his work as a poet, hymn writer, inventor, and engraver. He patented an artificial leg with a moveable ankle and a school desk with an improved folding seat and several other inventions and improvements. At the time of the formation of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in 1863, Smith was elected as the first secretary. He later held this same position again five separate times. He also served a term (1876–77) as General Conference treasurer. Ordained to the gospel ministry in 1874, in that same year he also helped co-found Battle Creek College. As a theologian in residence at church headquarters he regularly taught Bible classes, ministerial workshops, and chaired the college board. As the author of numerous books, Smith carved some of the first woodcut illustrations published by early Sabbatarian Adventists. He was one of the most prolific authors of early Adventism. His best-known work is Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation often abbreviated simply as Daniel and the Revelation. It became the classic text on Adventist end-time beliefs. He died in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1903, at the age of 70, from a stroke on his way to the Review office. His older sister Annie R. Smith was an early Seventh-day Adventist poet and hymnist.