Jonathan Bayard Smith
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Bayard Smith (February 21, 1742 – June 16, 1812) was an American
merchant from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He served as a delegate for Pennsylvania
to the Continental Congress
in 1777 and 1778. Smith was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation
.
, who had moved to Philadelphia. Smith graduated from Princeton
in 1760 and joined his father in business. Smith became an early advocate for American Independence.
, and in 1775 was made its secretary. He was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1777, serving from April 4 of that year until November of 1778. While in Congress, Smith endorsed the Articles of Confederation for Pennsylvania, but his role as a civic leader seems more important. Having advocated taking up arms (a sometimes unpopular stance in largely Quaker
Pennsylvania) he also joined the militia, becoming a lieutenant colonel
of John Bayard
's regiment.
, Smith became a trustee of the new school, serving until his death. He also served as a trustee for his alma mater, Princeton, for thirty years.
Smith served in other fraternal and civic organizations. He became an alderman
in Philadelphia, a grand master
of the Masons
, and a member of the American Philosophical Society
.
Smith died at his residence in Philadelphia in 1812, and is buried in the Second Presbyterian Church Graveyard there.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
merchant from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. He served as a delegate for Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1777 and 1778. Smith was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution...
.
Early Life
Jonathan Smith was the son of a successful mercantile businessman, Samuel Smith, of Portsmouth, New HampshirePortsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, who had moved to Philadelphia. Smith graduated from Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1760 and joined his father in business. Smith became an early advocate for American Independence.
Revolutionary War service
Smith became a member of the local Committee of SafetyCommittee of Safety (American Revolution)
Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...
, and in 1775 was made its secretary. He was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1777, serving from April 4 of that year until November of 1778. While in Congress, Smith endorsed the Articles of Confederation for Pennsylvania, but his role as a civic leader seems more important. Having advocated taking up arms (a sometimes unpopular stance in largely Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
Pennsylvania) he also joined the militia, becoming a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of John Bayard
John Bayard
John Bubenheim Bayard was a merchant, soldier, and statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1785 and 1786, and later mayor of New Brunswick, New Jersey....
's regiment.
Later work
After his congressional career, Smith returned his attention to business, but remained active in civic affairs. He became a great promoter of education, and in 1779 was one of the founders and a trustee of the "University of the State of Pennsylvania". In 1795, when it merged with two other schools to become the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, Smith became a trustee of the new school, serving until his death. He also served as a trustee for his alma mater, Princeton, for thirty years.
Smith served in other fraternal and civic organizations. He became an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in Philadelphia, a grand master
Grand Master (Masonic)
In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
of the Masons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, and a member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
.
Smith died at his residence in Philadelphia in 1812, and is buried in the Second Presbyterian Church Graveyard there.