William Nathan Harrell Smith

William Nathan Harrell Smith (September 24, 1812 – November 14, 1889) was a United States Representative from North Carolina; born in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, September 24, 1812; attended the common schools in Murfreesboro, N.C., Kingston, Rhode Island, and Colchester, Connecticut and East Lyme, Connecticut; was graduated from Yale College in 1834 and from Yale Law School in 1836; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Murfreesboro, N.C., in 1839; held several local offices; was a member of the State house of commons in 1840, 1858, 1865, and 1866; served in the State senate in 1848; solicitor (prosecutor) of the first judicial district of North Carolina for eight years; elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861); unsuccessful candidate (backed by the American Party and many Democrats) for Speaker;[1] served in the Confederate Congress 1862–1865; delegate to the Democratic National Convention at New York City in 1868; served as counsel for Governor W. W. Holden in his 1871 impeachment trial; chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court 1878–1889; died in Raleigh, North Carolina, November 14, 1889; interment in Historic Oakwood Cemetery.

Notes

  • United States Congress. "William Nathan Harrell Smith (id: S000634)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • North Carolina Historical Marker
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Robert T. Paine
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 1st congressional district

1859–1861
Succeeded by
John R. French
Legal offices
Preceded by
Richmond Mumford Pearson
Chief Justice of North Carolina Supreme Court
1878–1889
Succeeded by
Augustus S. Merrimon

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.


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