Israel SMITH, Congress, VT (1759-1810)

SMITH Israel , a Representative and a Senator from Vermont; born in Suffield, Conn., April 4, 1759; graduated from Yale College in 1781; studied law; admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Rupert, Vt.; member, State house of representatives 1785, 1788-1791; moved to Rutland, Vt.; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1791; upon the admission of Vermont as a State into the Union was elected to the Second Congress; reelected to the Third and Fourth Congresses and served from October 17, 1791, to March 3, 1797; unsuccessful candidate for reelection; member, State house of representatives 1797; chief justice of the State supreme court 1797-1798; elected to the Seventh Congress (March 4, 1801-March 3, 1803); did not seek renomination, having become a candidate for Senator; elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1803, until his resignation on October 1, 1807, having been elected Governor; Governor of Vermont 1807-1808; died in Rutland, Vt., December 2, 1810; interment in the West Street Cemetery.

Bibliography

American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present