Richard Smith (delegate)
Encyclopedia
Richard Smith was a lawyer and politician who served in the Continental Congress
.
Richard Smith was born in Burlington, New Jersey
to Richard Smith, a member of the West Jersey
Assembly, and Abigail Raper, his wife. Smith was educated under private teachers and in Quaker
schools, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1762 and practiced in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, and later in Burlington. He was commissioned county clerk of Burlington on December 7, 1762.
Smith was chosen as a New Jersey
delegate to the Continental Congress from July 23, 1774, to June 12, 1776, when he resigned. He was a member of the New Jersey Legislative Council
(now the New Jersey Senate
) in 1776, and was elected treasurer of New Jersey, serving 1776 until he resigned on February 15, 1777. Smith moved to Laurens, New York, in 1790, and then to Philadelphia in 1799. He died near Natchez, Mississippi
, and was interred in Natchez Cemetery.
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
.
Richard Smith was born in Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
to Richard Smith, a member of the West Jersey
West Jersey
West Jersey and East Jersey were two distinct parts of the Province of New Jersey. The political division existed for 28 years, between 1674 and 1702...
Assembly, and Abigail Raper, his wife. Smith was educated under private teachers and in Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
schools, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1762 and practiced in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and later in Burlington. He was commissioned county clerk of Burlington on December 7, 1762.
Smith was chosen as a New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
delegate to the Continental Congress from July 23, 1774, to June 12, 1776, when he resigned. He was a member of the New Jersey Legislative Council
New Jersey Legislative Council
The New Jersey Legislative Council was the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature under the New Jersey Constitution of 1776 until it was replaced by the New Jersey Senate under the Constitution of 1844.-History:...
(now the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
) in 1776, and was elected treasurer of New Jersey, serving 1776 until he resigned on February 15, 1777. Smith moved to Laurens, New York, in 1790, and then to Philadelphia in 1799. He died near Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, and was interred in Natchez Cemetery.