Perry Smith (politician)

Perry Smith
United States Senator
from Connecticut
In office
March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843
Preceded byGideon Tomlinson
Succeeded byJohn Milton Niles
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office
1822–1823
1835-1836
Personal details
Born(1783-05-12)May 12, 1783
Woodbury, Connecticut
DiedJune 8, 1852(1852-06-08) (aged 69)
New Milford, Connecticut
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAnne Comstock Smith
Alma materLitchfield Law School
OccupationLawyer

Perry Smith (May 12, 1783 – June 8, 1852) was a Connecticut lawyer and politician. He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives (1822-1823, 1835-1836) and United States Senate (1837-1843).

Biography

Smith was born in Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut, on May 12, 1783, the son of John and Abigail (Lambert) Smith. He completed preparatory studies; studied law at the Litchfield Law School in 1807; was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in New Milford. He married Anne Comstock who died on February 26, 1826.[1]

Career

A member of Connecticut House of Representatives from New Milford from 1822 to 1823, Smith was made postmaster of New Milford and held that post from 1829 to 1837.[2] He was again a state representative from 1835 to 1836, as well as judge of probate court from 1833 to 1835.[3]

Elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate from Connecticut, Smith served from March 4, 1837 to March 3, 1843. He was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture (Twenty-fifth Congress); and was a member of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Twenty-sixth Congress).[4]

Death

Smith died in New Milford on June 8, 1852 (age 69 years, 27 days). He is interred at New Milford Center Cemetery, New Milford, Connecticut,.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Perry Smith". Litchfield Historical Society. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  2. ^ Perry Smith. Connecticut Biographical Dictionary. January 2008. ISBN 9781878592590. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Perry Smith". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Perry Smith". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Perry Smith". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 3) from Connecticut
1837–1843
Served alongside: John M. Niles, Thaddeus Betts, Jabez W. Huntington
Succeeded by