William N. H. Smith
William N. H. Smith | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court | |
In office 1878–1889 | |
Preceded by | Richmond Mumford Pearson |
Succeeded by | Augustus Summerfield Merrimon |
Member of the C.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 1st district | |
In office 1862–1865 | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 1st district | |
In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861 | |
Preceded by | Henry M. Shaw |
Succeeded by | John R. French |
Member of the North Carolina Senate | |
In office 1848–1848 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Murfreesboro, North Carolina | September 24, 1812
Died | November 14, 1889 Raleigh, North Carolina | (aged 77)
Resting place | Historic Oakwood Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic Opposition (1859–1861) |
Education | Yale College Yale Law School |
William Nathan Harrell Smith (September 24, 1812 – November 14, 1889) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Representative from North Carolina, and as the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Biography
[edit]William N. H. Smith was born in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, September 24, 1812, and attended the common schools in Murfreesboro, N.C., Kingston, Rhode Island, and Colchester, Connecticut and East Lyme, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale College in 1834 and from Yale Law School in 1836, and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Murfreesboro, N.C., in 1839.
Smith held several local offices, including being a member of the State House of Commons in 1840, 1858, 1865, and 1866. He also served in the State Senate in 1848; was solicitor (prosecutor) of the first judicial district of North Carolina for eight years, and was elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861). He was unsuccessful candidate (backed by the American Party and many Democrats) for Speaker.[1] He served in the Confederate Congress in 1862–1865, and was delegate to the Democratic National Convention at New York City in 1868. He served as counsel for Governor W. W. Holden in his 1871 impeachment trial, and was chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1878 to 1889.
Smith died in Raleigh, North Carolina, November 14, 1889, and his remains were interred in Historic Oakwood Cemetery.
References
[edit] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
External links
[edit]- North Carolina Historical Marker
- United States Congress. "William N. H. Smith (id: S000634)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- 1812 births
- 1889 deaths
- People from Murfreesboro, North Carolina
- Opposition Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina
- Deputies and delegates to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States
- Members of the Confederate House of Representatives from North Carolina
- North Carolina Oppositionists
- Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
- Democratic Party North Carolina state senators
- Chief justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court
- North Carolina lawyers
- Yale Law School alumni
- 19th-century American legislators
- Yale College alumni
- 19th-century American judges
- 19th-century American lawyers
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina
- North Carolina politician stubs