US Congressman. A native of Eden, County Tyrone, Ireland, William Smyth was educated in rural schools in Ireland. At the age of fourteen, he immigrated to Pennsylvania with his parents. At the age of twenty, he moved to Iowa and studied law at the University of Iowa. Smyth was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1847. He served as the prosecuting attorney for Linn County, Iowa, from 1848 to 1853, when he was appointed as a district judge until 1857. He went back to the private practice of law in Marion, Iowa, and served as the chairman of the commission to codify the laws of Iowa. He served as colonel of the 31st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment for two years during the Civil War. In 1868, Smyth was elected to represent the second congressional district of Iowa in the United States House of Representatives. He died running for reelection in 1870.
US Congressman. A native of Eden, County Tyrone, Ireland, William Smyth was educated in rural schools in Ireland. At the age of fourteen, he immigrated to Pennsylvania with his parents. At the age of twenty, he moved to Iowa and studied law at the University of Iowa. Smyth was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1847. He served as the prosecuting attorney for Linn County, Iowa, from 1848 to 1853, when he was appointed as a district judge until 1857. He went back to the private practice of law in Marion, Iowa, and served as the chairman of the commission to codify the laws of Iowa. He served as colonel of the 31st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment for two years during the Civil War. In 1868, Smyth was elected to represent the second congressional district of Iowa in the United States House of Representatives. He died running for reelection in 1870.
Bio by: Steven Tynan
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