Revolutionary War Patriot, Brigadier General, US Senator. Born in Stafford County, Virginia, he was educated at the College of William and Mary and became a surveyor. In 1773, he became the deputy surveyor of Augusta County, Virgina and was elected sheriff of Augusta County in 1780. During the Revolutionary War, he was commissioned a Colonel in the militia, took part in the later battles and was appointed Assistant Deputy Surveyor for the Southern Department of the Continental Army in 1781. At the war's end, he moved to Sumner County, Tennessee, to claim a land grant for his military service and served as the county surveyor. He was prominent in local affairs, was appointed a Brigadier General in the Continental Army militia and President George Washington named him the first Secretary of the Southern Territory 1790. Smith was a member of the convention that wrote the Tennessee Constitution which came into effect with its statehood on June 1, 1796 and he prepared the first official map of Tennessee. In 1798, he was appointed as a Democratic United States Senator and served until 1809, when he resigned, returned to his Sumner County Tennessee estate and pursued agricultural and business interests until his death.
Revolutionary War Patriot, Brigadier General, US Senator. Born in Stafford County, Virginia, he was educated at the College of William and Mary and became a surveyor. In 1773, he became the deputy surveyor of Augusta County, Virgina and was elected sheriff of Augusta County in 1780. During the Revolutionary War, he was commissioned a Colonel in the militia, took part in the later battles and was appointed Assistant Deputy Surveyor for the Southern Department of the Continental Army in 1781. At the war's end, he moved to Sumner County, Tennessee, to claim a land grant for his military service and served as the county surveyor. He was prominent in local affairs, was appointed a Brigadier General in the Continental Army militia and President George Washington named him the first Secretary of the Southern Territory 1790. Smith was a member of the convention that wrote the Tennessee Constitution which came into effect with its statehood on June 1, 1796 and he prepared the first official map of Tennessee. In 1798, he was appointed as a Democratic United States Senator and served until 1809, when he resigned, returned to his Sumner County Tennessee estate and pursued agricultural and business interests until his death.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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