Jeremiah Smith
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Smith was an American
lawyer, jurist and politician from Exeter, New Hampshire
.
Born in Peterborough, New Hampshire
, Smith attended Harvard University
before graduating from Queens College, New Brunswick (now Rutgers University
) in 1780. He served in the Continental Army, and read law to enter the bar in 1786. He was in private practice in Peterborough from 1786 to 1796. He was a member, of the New Hampshire State Legislature from 1798 to 1791, and represented the state in the United States House of Representatives
from 1791 to 1797. He was a United States Attorney
for the District of New Hampshire from 1797 to 1800. He was a probate
judge of Rockingham County, New Hampshire
from 1800 to 1801.
On February 18, 1801, Smith was nominated by President John Adams
to a new seat as a federal judge on the United States circuit court
for the First Circuit, created by 2 Stat. 89. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 20, 1801, and received his commission the same day. Smith's federal judicial service was terminated on July 1, 1802, due to abolition of the court. He then became Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire
, from 1802 to 1809.
Smith was elected Governor of New Hampshire
in 1809, defeating incumbent Governor John Langdon
by only 319 votes. However, Langdon defeated Smith in the following election, in 1810. Smith returned to the private practice of law from 1810 until 1813, when he again became Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire, this time until 1916, when he was removed by the elimination of the court by the legislature. He again returned to private practice New Hampshire from 1816 to 1820.
Smith died in 1842 in Dover, New Hampshire
, and is buried at the Winter Street Cemetery in Exeter.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, jurist and politician from Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
.
Born in Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination....
, Smith attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
before graduating from Queens College, New Brunswick (now Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
) in 1780. He served in the Continental Army, and read law to enter the bar in 1786. He was in private practice in Peterborough from 1786 to 1796. He was a member, of the New Hampshire State Legislature from 1798 to 1791, and represented the state 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...
from 1791 to 1797. He was a United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the District of New Hampshire from 1797 to 1800. He was a probate
Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
judge of Rockingham County, New Hampshire
Rockingham County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 277,359 people, 104,529 households, and 74,320 families residing in the county. The population density was 399 people per square mile . There were 113,023 housing units at an average density of 163 per square mile...
from 1800 to 1801.
On February 18, 1801, Smith was nominated by President John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
to a new seat as a federal judge on the United States circuit court
United States circuit court
The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes. They also had appellate...
for the First Circuit, created by 2 Stat. 89. He was confirmed by 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...
on February 20, 1801, and received his commission the same day. Smith's federal judicial service was terminated on July 1, 1802, due to abolition of the court. He then became Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire
New Hampshire Supreme Court
The New Hampshire Supreme Court is the supreme court of the U. S. state of New Hampshire and sole appellate court of the state. The Supreme Court is seated in the state capital, Concord. The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices appointed by the Governor and Executive...
, from 1802 to 1809.
Smith was elected Governor of New Hampshire
Governor of New Hampshire
The Governor of the State of New Hampshire is the supreme executive magistrate of the U.S. state of New Hampshire.The governor is elected at the biennial state general election in November of even-numbered years. New Hampshire is one of only two states, along with bordering Vermont, to hold...
in 1809, defeating incumbent Governor John Langdon
John Langdon
John Langdon was a politician from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and one of the first two United States senators from that state. Langdon was an early supporter of the Revolutionary War and later served in the Continental Congress...
by only 319 votes. However, Langdon defeated Smith in the following election, in 1810. Smith returned to the private practice of law from 1810 until 1813, when he again became Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire, this time until 1916, when he was removed by the elimination of the court by the legislature. He again returned to private practice New Hampshire from 1816 to 1820.
Smith died in 1842 in Dover, New Hampshire
Dover, New Hampshire
Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
, and is buried at the Winter Street Cemetery in Exeter.