Jeremiah Smith

Who was Jeremiah Smith?

Jeremiah Smith was an American lawyer, jurist and politician from Exeter, New Hampshire.

Born in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Smith attended Harvard University before graduating from Queens College, New Brunswick 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 State Legislature from 1798 to 1791, and represented the state in the United States House of Representatives from 1791 to 1797. He was a 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, from 1802 to 1809.