John R. Smith (agriculture commissioner)

John R. Smith (July 1837 – April 14, 1921) was an American politician who served as the sixth North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.

Smith was born in July 1837. He married twice.[1]

Smith was a Republican.[2] He was appointed superintendent of the State Penitentiary by Governor Daniel Lindsay Russell.[3] He took office on March 7, 1897.[4] Upon uncovering evidence of misconduct, Russell arranged for Smith swap to positions with James M. Mewborne, the commissioner of agriculture.[2] The State Board of Agriculture elected him on December 14, 1897, to succeed Mewborne effective January 1, 1898.[5] At the board's next meeting on June 14, a motion was introduced to deem Smith unfit for office and form a committee to ask for his resignation. After heated debate, the motion was tabled.[3] Smith was succeeded by Samuel L. Patterson in 1899.[5]

Smith died at his home in Goldsboro on April 14, 1921.[6]