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William Smith
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Junior Senator, South Carolina
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| In office December 4, 1816 – March 3, 1823 November 29, 1826 – March 3, 1831 |
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| Preceded by | John Taylor William Harper |
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| Succeeded by | Robert Y. Hayne Stephen D. Miller |
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| Born | September 6, 1762 North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | June 26, 1840 (aged 77) Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican, Democratic |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
William Smith (September 6, 1762 – June 26, 1840) was chosen as a Democratic-Republican to the U.S. Senate representing South Carolina in 1816. The legislature declined to re-elect him when his term expired in 1823. He was narrowly chosen Senator in 1826 and was again replaced in 1831.
Smith was one of the first Southerners to argue, at the time of the Missouri Compromise in 1820, that slavery was a positive good; nevertheless, he opposed John C. Calhoun's doctrine and tactic of nullification. In 1828, seven electors from Georgia chose him for Vice President, instead of Calhoun, the Democratic nominee. He was also a splinter candidate for Vice President in 1836: Virginia refused to accept Richard Mentor Johnson as the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, and voted for the ticket of Martin Van Buren and William Smith, putting Johnson two electoral votes short of a majority; the Senate chose Johnson.
In 1832, he moved to Louisiana, having lost his political base in South Carolina; in 1836, he moved on to Huntsville, Alabama, and was elected to the Alabama Legislature; he held that seat for the rest of his life.
On March 3, 1837, outgoing President Andrew Jackson nominated Smith to the Supreme Court. The Senate confirmed Smith's nomination by a vote of 23–18; nevertheless, Smith declined to serve.
External links
| United States Senate | ||
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| Preceded by John Taylor |
United States Senator (Class 2) from South Carolina 1816–1823 Served alongside: John Gaillard |
Succeeded by Robert Y. Hayne |
| Preceded by William Harper |
United States Senator (Class 3) from South Carolina 1826–1831 Served alongside: Robert Y. Hayne |
Succeeded by Stephen D. Miller |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by (none) |
Democratic Party vice presidential candidate(1) 1828 (lost) |
Succeeded by Martin Van Buren |
| Preceded by Martin Van Buren |
Democratic Party vice presidential candidate(2) 1836 (lost) |
Succeeded by Richard M. Johnson, Littleton W. Tazewell, James K. Polk(3) |
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| 1. The Democratic Party vice-presidential nominee split this year between Smith and John C. Calhoun. 2. The Democratic Party vice-presidential nominee split this year between Smith and Richard M. Johnson. 3. The Democratic Party vice-presidential nominee was split this year between three candidates. |
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Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 2 November 2008, at 21:26.
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