Continental Congressman. He was educated locally and became manager of "Bathurst," his family's plantation. Smith was active in the militia, rising to Colonel and commander of the Essex County unit. In 1766 Smith was a signer of the Westmoreland Association in opposition to the Stamp Act. In 1774 he became a member of the Essex Committee on Safety, and he served in the colonial House of Burgesses from 1774 to 1775. He was a delegate to Virginia's conventions held to consider separating the American colonies from England in 1775 and 1776. Smith was member of Virginia's post-colonial state House of Delegates from 1776 to 1778. He served in the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1779, and again in 1781. Smith served again in the House of Delegates from 1781 to 1782, and in 1785 and 1788. He was a delegate to Virginia's 1788 constitutional convention, and is believed to have been the author of the Bill of Rights that became part of this document and served as a model for the first ten amendments to the new US Constitution. Smith's son George William Smith served as acting Governor of Virginia twice in 1811 and was elected to a full term later that year, but died in a Richmond theater fire shortly before his term would have begun.
Continental Congressman. He was educated locally and became manager of "Bathurst," his family's plantation. Smith was active in the militia, rising to Colonel and commander of the Essex County unit. In 1766 Smith was a signer of the Westmoreland Association in opposition to the Stamp Act. In 1774 he became a member of the Essex Committee on Safety, and he served in the colonial House of Burgesses from 1774 to 1775. He was a delegate to Virginia's conventions held to consider separating the American colonies from England in 1775 and 1776. Smith was member of Virginia's post-colonial state House of Delegates from 1776 to 1778. He served in the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1779, and again in 1781. Smith served again in the House of Delegates from 1781 to 1782, and in 1785 and 1788. He was a delegate to Virginia's 1788 constitutional convention, and is believed to have been the author of the Bill of Rights that became part of this document and served as a model for the first ten amendments to the new US Constitution. Smith's son George William Smith served as acting Governor of Virginia twice in 1811 and was elected to a full term later that year, but died in a Richmond theater fire shortly before his term would have begun.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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