Nathaniel Smith

Nathaniel Smith (January 6, 1762 – March 9, 1822) was a nineteenth-century lawyer, cattle dealer, judge and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut and as a judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut.

For other people named Nathaniel Smith, see Nathaniel Smith (disambiguation).

Nathaniel Smith
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Connecticut's At-large district
In office
March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1799
Preceded byRoger Griswold
Succeeded byJames Davenport
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office
1789-1795
Personal details
Born(1762-01-06)January 6, 1762
Woodbury, Connecticut Colony, British America
DiedMarch 9, 1822(1822-03-09) (aged 60)
Norwich, Connecticut, U.S.
CitizenshipAmerican
Political partyFederalist
SpouseRuth Benedict Smith
RelationsNathan Smith and Truman Smith
ChildrenHarriet J. Smith and Nathaniel Benedict Smith
Parent(s)Richard Smith and Annis (Hurd) Smith
Alma materLitchfield Law School
OccupationLawyer, judge, politician

Biography

Smith was born in Woodbury in the Connecticut Colony, the son of Richard Smith and Annis (Hurd) Smith. He attended the common schools and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was also a cattle dealer. Smith attended the Litchfield Law School.[1] He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1787. Smith began the practice of law in Woodbury.[2]

In 1789 Smith became a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, and served in the State House until 1795.[3] He was elected as a Federalist candidate to the Fourth and Fifth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1795 to March 3, 1799.[4] He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1798.

Smith served as a member of the Connecticut council of assistants from 1799 to 1804.[5] He served in the Connecticut Senate from 1800 to 1805.[6] Smith was State's Attorney for Litchfield County in 1805.[7][8]

In 1806 he became judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut. He kept this position for thirteen years.[3] He was also a delegate to the Hartford Convention from 1814 to 1815.[9] Smith died in Woodbury on March 9, 1822. He is interred in the Episcopal Church Cemetery.[9]

Personal life

Smith married Ruth Benedict Smith.[10] They had two children, Harriet J. Smith and Nathaniel Benedict Smith.[11]

Smith was the brother of Nathan Smith, United States Senator from Connecticut, and the uncle of Truman Smith, United States Senator from Connecticut.[12][13]

References
  1. "Nathaniel Smith". Litchfield Historical Society. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  2. "Nathaniel Smith". Connecticut State Library. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  3. "Nathaniel Smith". Connecticut State Library. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  4. "Rep. Nathaniel Smith". Govtrack.us. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  5. "Nathaniel Smith (1762-1822)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  6. Kilbourn, Dwight Canfield (1909). The Bench and Bar of Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1709-1909: Biographical Sketches of Members, History and Catalogue of the Litchfield Law School, Historical Notes. Dwight Canfield Kilbourn. p. 291.
  7. Church, Samuel and Litchfield County (Conn.) (1851). Litchfield County centennial celebration held at Litchfield, Conn., 13th and 14th of August, 1851. E. Hunt. p. 34.
  8. Adams, George (1854). The Massachusetts Register, Issue 88. George Adams. p. 237.
  9. "SMITH, Nathaniel, (1762 - 1822)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  10. "Nathaniel Smith". Litchfield Historical Society. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  11. "Nathaniel Smith". Connecticut State Library. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  12. "Smith family of Connecticut". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  13. Fay, John William and Herbert M Linen (1915). The Cyclopædia of American biography, Volume 5. Press Association Compilers.
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