James Smith (signer)

Founding Fathers

James Smith (signer)
State | Pennsylvania
Religion | Christian- Presbyterian [1]
Founding Documents | Declaration of Independence

James Smith (b. Circa 1719; d. July 11, 1806 ) is an American Founding Father. He was a land surveyor, a lawyer and owned a large law practice. He was known to be very religious and became a professor of religion. James Smith was an organizing figure leading the people to boycott Britain. He asssembled and became Captain of the York voluntary militia. Smith was a delegate of Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress that signed the Declaration of Independence. Also, he was a State assemblyman and a judge of High Court of Appeals.

## Contents

* 1 Early life
* 2 American Revolution
* 3 Politics
* 4 Death
* 5 References

## Early life[edit]

James Smith was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father John was a successful farmer that emigrated the family to Cheshire County Pennsylvania when James was 10 years old. He would receive a classical education from a local church minister. After his father died in 1761, James received an education from the provost of the college of Philadelphia, the distinguished Dr. Allison.[2] After that, he would study law at the office of Thomas Cookson, in Lancaster. Smith was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar at age twenty-six.[3] Next Smith established his own practice at York and it was one of the most successful. James and Eleanor Smith had five children, only two survived, a son and a daughter.[4]

## American Revolution[edit]

James Smith entered with zeal into the patriotic cause in defense of colonial rights. He attended both the provincial convention and the state convention. He attended a provincial assembly session where he discussed his writings regarding a boycott of British goods, called the "Essay on the Constitutional Power of Great Britain over the Colonies in America." Elected for two years to the Continental Congress, provided his office for meetings of the Board of War. He had assembled a volunteer militia in York and was the Captain, later he oversaw a battalion and was made Brigadier General.

## Politics[edit]

James Smith retired from Congress in 1777 and spent one term as a state senator. For a few months he became judge of the Pennsylvania High Court of Appeals. He would be reelected to Congress in 1785 but declined.

## Death[edit]

Little is known about his works, a fire destroyed his office and records. He died in 1806 several months after, in York, Pennsylvania. He was laid to rest at the First Presbyterian Church.[5]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Religion.html
2. ↑ James Smith, ColonialHall.com
3. ↑ James Smith, USHistory.org
4. ↑ James Smith - Signer of Declaration of Independence, Ancestory.com
5. ↑ Continental Congress at York, Pennsylvania and York County in the Revolution

v • d • e

Declaration of Independence

Grievances of the United States Declaration of Independence
Forming Committee|

Thomas Jefferson • Roger Sherman • Benjamin Franklin • Robert R. Livingston • John Adams

The drafting committee presenting the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress, painted by John Trumbull 1817–1819.

New Hampshire|

Josiah Bartlett • William Whipple • Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts|

John Hancock • Samuel Adams • John Adams • Robert Treat Paine • Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island|

Stephen Hopkins • William Ellery

Connecticut|

Roger Sherman • Samuel Huntington • William Williams • Oliver Wolcott

New York|

William Floyd • Philip Livingston • Francis Lewis • Lewis Morris

New Jersey|

Richard Stockton • John Witherspoon • Francis Hopkinson • John Hart • Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania|

Robert Morris • Benjamin Rush • Benjamin Franklin • John Morton • George Clymer • James Smith • George Taylor • James Wilson • George Ross

Delaware|

Caesar Rodney • George Read • Thomas McKean

Maryland|

Samuel Chase • William Paca • Thomas Stone • Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia|

George Wythe • Richard Henry Lee • Thomas Jefferson • Benjamin Harrison • Thomas Nelson, Jr. • Francis Lightfoot Lee • Carter Braxton

North Carolina|

William Hooper • Joseph Hewes • John Penn

South Carolina|

Edward Rutledge • Thomas Heyward Jr. • Thomas Lynch, Jr. • Arthur Middleton

Georgia|

Button Gwinnett • Lyman Hall • George Walton