1. Israel Smith was an American lawyer and politician.
15 Facts About Israel Smith
1. 2.
Israel Smith held a wide variety of positions in the state of Vermont, including as a member of the United States House of Representatives, a member of the United States Senate, the fourth governor of Vermont.
3.
Israel Smith studied at Yale University and graduated in 1781.
4.
Israel Smith studied law with his brother Noah Smith, and was admitted to the bar.
5.
Israel Smith married Abiah Douglass, and they had two children, William and Horace.
6.
Israel Smith began his political career in 1785 when he served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives.
7.
Israel Smith served in the Vermont House again from 1788 to 1791.
8.
When Vermont became a state in 1791, Israel Smith ran for Vermont's seat in the United States House of Representatives.
9.
Israel Smith represented Vermont's 1st District in the US House from 1791 to 1797.
10.
Israel Smith became Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court in 1797, but resigned the following year.
11.
In 1800, Israel Smith was reelected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served until 1802.
12.
In 1802, Israel Smith was elected to the United States Senate from Vermont, and served in the Senate from 1803 to 1807.
13.
Israel Smith was unsuccessful in his first five attempts in 1799,1800,1801,1802, and 1806, but finally defeated Tichenor in 1807.
14.
Israel Smith resigned from the Senate and served as Governor of Vermont from 1807 to 1808, when he was defeated for reelection by Tichenor, who served for one last year before being defeated in 1809 by Jones Galusha.
15.
Israel Smith was interred at West Street Cemetery in Rutland.