George William Smith (1762 – December 26, 1811) was a Virginia lawyer and politician who served several terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and was twice the acting governor of the state before then being elected as the 17thGovernor of Virginia. His term as elected governor was short and ended with his death in the Richmond Theatre fire of 1811.
George William Smith was born in 1762 at the family estate "Bathurst" in Essex County, Virginia, to Alice and Meriwether Smith.[1] His father was a notable Virginia politician, having served in the House of Burgesses, the Continental Congress and the Virginia House of Delegates.[2] His mother (maiden name "Lee") was a great-grandchild of Richard Lee I ("The Immigrant"). George Williams Smith took up the practice of law and was married twice. His first marriage to Sarah Adams in 1793 produced children, though his second marriage to Jane Reade Jones did not.[3]
Political careeredit
Like his father, the younger Smith soon entered politics, representing Essex County in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1790 to 1794. He later took his law practice to Richmond and, in 1801, again won election to the state house, this time representing the city. He was elected to represent Richmond in the House in its 1807–08 session but lost his seat when his opponent, John H. Foushee, successfully contested the election results. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed to the Virginia Council of State by the General Assembly, soon becoming its president and thus the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.[2][1]
As the senior member of the Virginia Council, Smith became the acting Governor of Virginia, between the terms of John Tyler Sr. and James Monroe, for five days in January 1811.[4] He became acting Governor again, from April to December of the same year, when Monroe resigned to become United States Secretary of State.[4] Smith was then elected to the office in his own right as the 17th Governor of Virginia, representing the Democratic-Republican Party.[4] However, his official tenure lasted only three weeks before his death during the great Richmond Theatre fire of December 26, 1811.[5] Governor Smith had initially reached safety, but he went back into the fire and died trying to find his young son.[1] The Governor's sudden and unexpected death left the Virginia executive branch in turmoil, prompting acting Governor Peyton Randolph to push the legislature to appoint a successor swiftly.[6]
^ abcSmith, Margaret Vowell (1893). Virginia, 1492–1892; a brief review of the discovery of the continent of North America, with a history of the executives of the colony and of the commonwealth of Virginia. Washington, W.H. Lowdermilk & Co. p. 318. ISBN9781176416864. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
^ ab"Guide to the Governor George William Smith Executive Papers, 1811–1812". Library of Virginia. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
^Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Vol. 2. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 47. ISBN1330041925.
^ abc"Governors of Virginia". Encyclopedia of Virginia. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
^"Virginia Governor George William Smith". National Governors Association.
^Baker, Meredith Henne (2012). The Richmond Theater Fire : early America's first great disaster. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. p. 73. ISBN9780807143742.
george, william, smith, politician, other, people, named, george, smith, george, smith, disambiguation, george, william, smith, 1762, december, 1811, virginia, lawyer, politician, served, several, terms, virginia, house, delegates, twice, acting, governor, sta. For other people named George Smith see George Smith disambiguation George William Smith 1762 December 26 1811 was a Virginia lawyer and politician who served several terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and was twice the acting governor of the state before then being elected as the 17th Governor of Virginia His term as elected governor was short and ended with his death in the Richmond Theatre fire of 1811 George William Smith17th Governor of VirginiaIn office April 3 1811 December 26 1811Preceded byJames MonroeSucceeded byPeyton Randolph acting Member of the Virginia Council of StateIn office December 15 1807 December 26 1811Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Richmond CityIn office December 7 1801 December 6 1802Preceded byCharles CoplandSucceeded byJohn AdamsMember of the Virginia House of Delegates from Essex CountyIn office October 18 1790 November 11 1794Preceded byRichard BanksSucceeded byFrancis T BrookePersonal detailsBorn1762 1762 Essex County Colony of Virginia British AmericaDiedDecember 26 1811 aged 49 Richmond Virginia U S NationalityAmericanPolitical partyDemocratic RepublicanSpousesSarah AdamsJane Reade JonesParentMeriwether Smith father ProfessionLawyerSignature Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 References 4 External linksEarly life editGeorge William Smith was born in 1762 at the family estate Bathurst in Essex County Virginia to Alice and Meriwether Smith 1 His father was a notable Virginia politician having served in the House of Burgesses the Continental Congress and the Virginia House of Delegates 2 His mother maiden name Lee was a great grandchild of Richard Lee I The Immigrant George Williams Smith took up the practice of law and was married twice His first marriage to Sarah Adams in 1793 produced children though his second marriage to Jane Reade Jones did not 3 Political career editLike his father the younger Smith soon entered politics representing Essex County in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1790 to 1794 He later took his law practice to Richmond and in 1801 again won election to the state house this time representing the city He was elected to represent Richmond in the House in its 1807 08 session but lost his seat when his opponent John H Foushee successfully contested the election results Shortly thereafter he was appointed to the Virginia Council of State by the General Assembly soon becoming its president and thus the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia 2 1 As the senior member of the Virginia Council Smith became the acting Governor of Virginia between the terms of John Tyler Sr and James Monroe for five days in January 1811 4 He became acting Governor again from April to December of the same year when Monroe resigned to become United States Secretary of State 4 Smith was then elected to the office in his own right as the 17th Governor of Virginia representing the Democratic Republican Party 4 However his official tenure lasted only three weeks before his death during the great Richmond Theatre fire of December 26 1811 5 Governor Smith had initially reached safety but he went back into the fire and died trying to find his young son 1 The Governor s sudden and unexpected death left the Virginia executive branch in turmoil prompting acting Governor Peyton Randolph to push the legislature to appoint a successor swiftly 6 Smith s ashes were placed under a rock at Monumental Church in Richmond with the ashes of other victims of the fire including former senator and president of the Bank of Virginia Abraham B Venable References edit a b c Smith Margaret Vowell 1893 Virginia 1492 1892 a brief review of the discovery of the continent of North America with a history of the executives of the colony and of the commonwealth of Virginia Washington W H Lowdermilk amp Co p 318 ISBN 9781176416864 Retrieved August 5 2015 a b Guide to the Governor George William Smith Executive Papers 1811 1812 Library of Virginia Retrieved August 6 2015 Tyler Lyon Gardiner 1915 Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography Vol 2 Lewis Historical Publishing Company p 47 ISBN 1330041925 a b c Governors of Virginia Encyclopedia of Virginia Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Retrieved August 5 2015 Virginia Governor George William Smith National Governors Association Baker Meredith Henne 2012 The Richmond Theater Fire early America s first great disaster Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press p 73 ISBN 9780807143742 External links editGeorge William Smith at Find a Grave George William Smith at the National Governor s Association Archival Records A Guide to the Governor George William Smith Executive Papers 1811 1812 at The Library of Virginia Political offices Preceded byJames Monroe Governor of Virginia1811 Succeeded byPeyton Randolph Acting Governor Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George William Smith politician amp oldid 1219280032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
