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John Smilie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Smilie (1741 – December 30, 1812) was an Irish-American politician from Newtownards, County Down, Ireland. He served in both houses of the state legislature and represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House from 1793 until 1795 and from 1799 to 1812.

John Smilie Signature

Biography

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Smilie was born in Ireland and immigrated on May 24, 1762, settling first in Lancaster County. He moved to Fayette in 1780. He was a prominent Jeffersonian and was identified with the "'Quid" branch of the party. In 1806–07, during the debates over the abolition of the slave trade, Smilie was among the most outspoken against the evils of the slave trade. He argued that slaves illegally imported after 1808 should be freed, and that slave smugglers deserved the death penalty. Neither provision was adopted.

Congress

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He was elected to the Thirteenth Congress in 1812 but died before it opened.

In 1791, Smilie was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society.[1]

Death

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He died in Washington, D.C., aged 71, and is buried in the Congressional Cemetery there.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved April 5, 2021.

Further reading

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  • Everett, Edward. "John Smilie, Forgotten Champion of Early Western Pennsylvania." Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine 33 (September–December 1950), 77–89.
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Political offices
Preceded by Member, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania,
representing Fayette County

November 2, 1786 – November 19, 1789
Succeeded by
Nathaniel Breading
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
None
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district

1793-1795
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district

1799–1803
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district

1803–1812
Succeeded by