Israel Smith
Encyclopedia
Israel Smith was an American lawyer and politician who held a wide variety of positions in the state of Vermont
.
Smith was born in Suffield, Connecticut
, where he spent his childhood. He studied at Yale and graduated in 1781. He then became a lawyer and moved to Vermont. He first settled in Rupert, Vermont
where he practiced law and entered politics. By 1790 he had moved to Rutland, Vermont
.
Smith served a 1-year term in the Vermont House of Representatives
in 1785. He again served in the Vermont House from 1788 to 1791. During that time, he was active in solving Vermont's boundary disputes with other states and served as a delegate to the Vermont Constitutional Convention, at which Vermont ratified the American Constitution. When Vermont became a state in 1791, Smith ran for Vermont's seat in the United States House of Representatives
. In a bitterly fought election between Smith, Matthew Lyon
and Isaac Tichenor
, Smith received second place, 35% of the vote in the first round, but won the runoff against Lyon.
Smith served in the US House from 1791 to 1797. In 1792 and 1794, Lyon unsuccessfully ran against Smith, but in 1796 Smith was finally defeated by Lyon. By this time, Smith had become a member of the Democratic-Republican Party
.
In 1797, Smith again briefly served in the Vermont State House. Later in 1797 he became chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, but resigned the following year. In 1800, Smith was reelected to the United States House, where he served until 1802.
In 1802 Smith was elected to the United States Senate
from Vermont, and served in the Senate from 1803 to 1807. In 1807 he successfully ran against one of his old political rivals, Isaac Tichenor, for governor. Tichenor had served as governor for a decade. Smith resigned from the Senate and served as governor of Vermont from 1807 to 1808, when he was defeated for reelection by Tichenor.
Smith then moved back to Rutland, Vermont, where he retired from politics and soon developed an illness. He died in Rutland and is buried there in West Street Cemetery.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
Smith was born in Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
, where he spent his childhood. He studied at Yale and graduated in 1781. He then became a lawyer and moved to Vermont. He first settled in Rupert, Vermont
Rupert, Vermont
Rupert is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 704 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.6 square miles , of which 44.6 square miles is land and 0.02% is water.-History:Many...
where he practiced law and entered politics. By 1790 he had moved to Rutland, Vermont
Rutland (town), Vermont
Rutland is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,054 at the 2010 census. Rutland completely surrounds the city of Rutland, which is incorporated separately from the town of Rutland.-History:...
.
Smith served a 1-year term in the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in 1785. He again served in the Vermont House from 1788 to 1791. During that time, he was active in solving Vermont's boundary disputes with other states and served as a delegate to the Vermont Constitutional Convention, at which Vermont ratified the American Constitution. When Vermont became a state in 1791, Smith ran for Vermont's seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. In a bitterly fought election between Smith, Matthew Lyon
Matthew Lyon
Matthew Lyon , father of Chittenden Lyon and great-grandfather of William Peters Hepburn, was a printer, farmer, soldier and politician, serving as a United States Representative from both Vermont and Kentucky....
and Isaac Tichenor
Isaac Tichenor
Isaac Tichenor was the third and fifth Governor of Vermont and also served as a jurist and a United States Senator.Tichenor was born in Newark, New Jersey...
, Smith received second place, 35% of the vote in the first round, but won the runoff against Lyon.
Smith served in the US House from 1791 to 1797. In 1792 and 1794, Lyon unsuccessfully ran against Smith, but in 1796 Smith was finally defeated by Lyon. By this time, Smith had become a member of the Democratic-Republican Party
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
.
In 1797, Smith again briefly served in the Vermont State House. Later in 1797 he became chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, but resigned the following year. In 1800, Smith was reelected to the United States House, where he served until 1802.
In 1802 Smith was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Vermont, and served in the Senate from 1803 to 1807. In 1807 he successfully ran against one of his old political rivals, Isaac Tichenor, for governor. Tichenor had served as governor for a decade. Smith resigned from the Senate and served as governor of Vermont from 1807 to 1808, when he was defeated for reelection by Tichenor.
Smith then moved back to Rutland, Vermont, where he retired from politics and soon developed an illness. He died in Rutland and is buried there in West Street Cemetery.