US Congressman. He attended local public schools and pursued interests in the agricultural and cattle business before he entered politics. Born in Woodbury, Connecticut, he studied law at the Litchfield Law School in Litchfield, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in 1787. He began practicing in Woodbury and soon set up his own law office. He then entered politics and served as a Member of the Connecticut State House of Representatives from 1789 to 1795. A Federalist, he then served Connecticut's 4th and 5th Districts in the United States House of Representatives from 1795 to 1799. He declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1798. He also served as a Member of the Connecticut Council of Assistants from 1799 to 1804, Member of the Connecticut State Senate from 1800 to 1805, Delegate to the Hartford Convention of 1814 and 1815, and lastly as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut from 1806 to 1819. He passed away in Woodbury at the age of 60. His obituary that appeared in The National Gazette Newspaper of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 15, 1822, stated that he was 'a lawyer of great eminence and a judge who was distinguished by his talents of having a very superior character'. He was the father of the lawyer and politician Nathaniel Benedict Smith, brother of the lawyer and senator Nathan Smith, and the uncle of the United States Congressman Truman Smith.
US Congressman. He attended local public schools and pursued interests in the agricultural and cattle business before he entered politics. Born in Woodbury, Connecticut, he studied law at the Litchfield Law School in Litchfield, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in 1787. He began practicing in Woodbury and soon set up his own law office. He then entered politics and served as a Member of the Connecticut State House of Representatives from 1789 to 1795. A Federalist, he then served Connecticut's 4th and 5th Districts in the United States House of Representatives from 1795 to 1799. He declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1798. He also served as a Member of the Connecticut Council of Assistants from 1799 to 1804, Member of the Connecticut State Senate from 1800 to 1805, Delegate to the Hartford Convention of 1814 and 1815, and lastly as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut from 1806 to 1819. He passed away in Woodbury at the age of 60. His obituary that appeared in The National Gazette Newspaper of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 15, 1822, stated that he was 'a lawyer of great eminence and a judge who was distinguished by his talents of having a very superior character'. He was the father of the lawyer and politician Nathaniel Benedict Smith, brother of the lawyer and senator Nathan Smith, and the uncle of the United States Congressman Truman Smith.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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