Member Biography

Wilson Smith 

Seal
Sessions Office Position District Party
1809-1810         Democrat
1810-1811         Democrat
1811-1812         Democrat
1812-1813         Democrat

Biography

1771 - 01/09/1841


Wilson Smith (D20) Crawford, Erie, Venango, Mercer and Warren Counties, 1809-1813

Early Life:

Wilson Smith born 1771, Mill Creek, Erie Pennsylvania; son of Revolutionary War veteran Matthew and Agnes Smith ; married, Jane Wilson, son Colonel Matthew Smith; appointed, County Surveyor, 1800; County Sheriff, 1803; elected, Conventionalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1805-1807; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1807-1808; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1809-1813; state quartermaster general, War of 1812; third Aide de Camp, Governor Simon Snyder, War of 1812; Paymaster, Pennsylvania Militia, Oliver Hazard Perry, Erie Campaign; Associate Judge of Erie County, 1814-1819; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1819-1821; Pennsylvania Trustee of the Academy, Erie County, Waterford Academy, 1821; unsuccessful election, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1825; unsuccessful election, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1828; unsuccessful election, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1829; federal elector, President Andrew Jackson, 1832; died, January 9, 1841 (aged 69–70), Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania; interment, Waterford Cemetery, Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

State quartermaster general, War of 1812; third Aide de Camp, Governor Simon Snyder, War of 1812; Paymaster, Pennsylvania Militia, Oliver Hazard Perry, Erie Campaign.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Appointed, County Surveyor, 1800. 

County Sheriff, 1803. 

Elected, Conventionalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1805-1807. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1807-1808.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 20th district, Crawford, Erie, Venango, Mercer and Warren Counties, 1809-1813. 

Associate Judge of Erie County, 1814-1819. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1819-1821.

Pennsylvania Trustee of the Academy, Erie County, Waterford Academy, 1821.

Unsuccessful election, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1825. 

Unsuccessful election, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1828. 

Unsuccessful election, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1829.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Not currently available.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members S"Wilkes University Election Statistics ProjectWilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Wilson Smith (1771-1841) - Find a Grave Memorial