Preceded by John Langdon Political party Federalist Succeeded by John Langdon Preceded by Abiel Foster | Preceded by Seat established Party Federalist Party Appointed by John Adams Name Jeremiah Smith | |
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Born November 29, 1759
Peterborough, New Hampshire, British America ( 1759-11-29 ) Spouse(s) Elizabeth Ross
Elizabeth Hale Role Former United States Representative Died September 21, 1842, Exeter, New Hampshire, United States Education Rutgers University, Harvard University, Harvard College, Rutgers University–New Brunswick | ||
Previous office Representative 1791–1797 | ||
Jeremiah Smith (November 29, 1759 – September 21, 1842) was an American lawyer, jurist and politician from Exeter, New Hampshire.
Born in Peterborough in the Province of New Hampshire, Smith attended Harvard University before graduating from Queens College in New Brunswick, New Jersey (now Rutgers University) in 1780. He served in the Continental Army, and read law to enter the bar in 1786. He was in private practice in Peterborough from 1786 to 1796. He was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1798 to 1799, and the United States House of Representatives from 1791 to 1797. He was United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire from 1797 to 1800. He was a probate judge of Rockingham County, New Hampshire from 1800 to 1801.
On February 18, 1801, Smith was nominated by President John Adams to a new seat as a federal judge on the United States circuit court for the First Circuit, created by 2 Stat. 89. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 20, 1801, and received his commission the same day. Smith's federal judicial service was terminated on July 1, 1802, due to abolition of the court. He then became Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire, and served from 1802 to 1809.
Smith was elected Governor of New Hampshire in 1809, defeating incumbent Governor John Langdon by only 319 votes. However, Langdon defeated Smith in the following election, in 1810. Smith returned to the private practice of law from 1810 until 1813, when he again became Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire, this time until 1816, when he was removed by the elimination of the court by the legislature. He again returned to private practice New Hampshire from 1816 to 1820.
Smith was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1814.
Smith died in 1842 in Dover, New Hampshire, and is buried at the Winter Street Cemetery in Exeter.