Francis Hopkinson Smith

Biography

Francis Hopkinson Smith balanced careers as a civil engineer and an artist-writer, bringing a practical eye to the grand projects of his day before turning to the literary arts. Born in Baltimore, he helped oversee bridges and coastal works while later penning popular novels such as "Colonel Carter of Cartersville," delighting readers with his humor and keen eye for society.

He also painted, sketched, and contributed to cultural causes, believing that beauty and craftsmanship belonged together. When he died in 1915 he left behind a body of work that linked the pulse of industry with the softer notes of story and design, a harmony now remembered at Woodlawn Cemetery.