James Francis Smith

James Francis Smith (January 28, 1859 – June 29, 1928) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Governor-General of the Philippines and an associate judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals.

James Francis Smith
Associate Judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals
In office
March 30, 1910  June 29, 1928
Appointed byWilliam Howard Taft
Preceded bySeat established by 36 Stat. 11
Succeeded byFinis J. Garrett
Governor-General of the Philippines
In office
September 20, 1906  November 11, 1909
PresidentTheodore Roosevelt
William Howard Taft
Preceded byHenry Clay Ide
Succeeded byWilliam Cameron Forbes
4th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
In office
June 17, 1901  February 17, 1903
Appointed byWilliam McKinley
Preceded bySeat established
Succeeded byJohn T. McDonough
Personal details
Born
James Francis Smith

(1859-01-28)January 28, 1859
San Francisco, California
DiedJune 29, 1928(1928-06-29) (aged 69)
Washington, D.C.
EducationSanta Clara University
(B.S., B.A., M.A.)
University of California, Hastings
College of the Law

Education and career

Born on January 28, 1859, in San Francisco, California,[1] Smith received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1877 from Santa Clara University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in 1878 from the same institution, then attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.[1] He entered private practice in California from 1881 to 1898.[1]

In 1898, Smith joined the United States Army and served in the Philippine–American War, where he served as the Collector of Customs for the Philippine Archipelago in Manila.[1] Following the end of the war, Smith held a number of offices on the Philippine Commission, including Secretary of Public Instruction and Vice-Governor. From 1901 to 1903 he was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.[1] He was Governor-General of the Philippines from 1906 to 1909.[1]

Smith's tenure as Governor-General saw the Philippines achieving greater territorial autonomy as and allowing for greater Filipino representation in the government. On March 28, 1907, Smith issued a statement claiming that the people of the Philippines had largely been "law-abiding, peaceful, and loyal to the United States" according to a 1905 census.[2] He was present at the inauguration of the first Philippine Assembly on October 17, 1907, after the Philippines had held its first democratic elections.

At the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibition in Seattle, 1909

In 1908, after the construction of a mansion in Baguio that would serve as the colonial government seat during summertime, Smith's family became the first residents of the building, with his wife wanting to escape the heat of Manila.[3]

Federal judicial service

Smith was nominated by President William Howard Taft on March 9, 1910, to the United States Court of Customs Appeals (later the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals), to a new Associate Judge seat authorized by 36 Stat. 11.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 30, 1910, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on June 29, 1928, due to his death in Washington, D.C.[1]

Membership

Smith was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, Alcatraz Parlor No. 145.[4]

Bibliography

  • A brief history of the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals by Giles S. Rich. Washington, D.C. : Published by authorization of Committee on the Bicentennial of Independence and the Constitution of the Judicial Conference of the United States : U.S. G.P.O., 1980.

References

  1. "Smith, James Francis - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  2. "March 28, 1907, Governor Smith declared that Filipinos are peaceful and loyal to the US". The Kahimyang Project. 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. "Mansion House - Presidential Museum and Library". Malacañan Palace. GOV.PH. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  4. Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Session of the Native Sons of the Golden West, 1899

Sources

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