William Nathan Harrell SMITH, Congress, NC (1812-1889)

SMITH, William Nathan Harrell, a Representative from North Carolina; born in Murfreesboro, N.C., September 24, 1812; attended the common schools in Murfreesboro, N.C., Kingston, R.I., and Colchester and East Lyme, Conn.; was graduated from Yale College in 1834 and from Yale Law School in 1836; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Murfreesboro, N.C., in 1839; held several local offices; was a member of the State house of commons in 1840, 1858, 1865, and 1866; served in the State senate in 1848; solicitor of the first judicial district of North Carolina for eight years; elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1861); unsuccessful candidate for Speaker, lacking one vote of election; served in the Confederate Congress 1862-1865; delegate to the Democratic National Convention at New York City in 1868; chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court 1878-1889; died in Raleigh, N.C., November 14, 1889; interment in Oakwood Cemetery.

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