Thomas Smith (Pennsylvania congressman)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Smith was a Federalist
member of the United States House of Representatives
who served Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district
from 1815 to 1817.
A native of Pennsylvania
, Smith resided in Tinicum Township
in the state's Delaware County
when, in 1806, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, serving through 1807. A Federalist Party
candidate in the Election of 1814
, he won the first district
seat to represent Pennsylvania in the Fourteenth United States Congress from March 4, 1815 to March 3, 1817.
In 1815, the first year of his one-term Congressional service, Thomas Smith moved to Darby Township
(later Darby Borough
). Three decades later, at the time of his death, he was still in public service, as a justice of the peace in Darby. Although the year of his birth has remained undocumented, his record as a state politician in the first decade of the 19th century indicates that he lived at least into his mid- to late sixties. The interment was in St. James’s (Old Swedes) Cemetery in Paschall (now a part of Philadelphia).
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
who served Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district
Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district
Pennsylvania's first congressional district includes primarily central and South Philadelphia, the City of Chester, the Philadelphia International Airport, and other small sections of Delaware County. The district currently has an overwhelming Democratic majority. Bob Brady, the chairman of the...
from 1815 to 1817.
A native of 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...
, Smith resided in Tinicum Township
Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Tinicum Township, more popularly known as "Tinicum Island" or "The Island", a census-designated place and township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,353 at the 2000 census. Included within the township's boundaries are the communities of Essington and Lester...
in the state's Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
when, in 1806, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, serving through 1807. A Federalist Party
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
candidate in the Election of 1814
United States House election, 1814
The U.S. House election, 1814 was an election for the United States House of Representatives to the Fourteenth United States Congress. Voting in the various states was held between April 1814 and August 10, 1815 . The Congress met on December 4, 1815...
, he won the first district
Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district
Pennsylvania's first congressional district includes primarily central and South Philadelphia, the City of Chester, the Philadelphia International Airport, and other small sections of Delaware County. The district currently has an overwhelming Democratic majority. Bob Brady, the chairman of the...
seat to represent Pennsylvania in the Fourteenth United States Congress from March 4, 1815 to March 3, 1817.
In 1815, the first year of his one-term Congressional service, Thomas Smith moved to Darby Township
Darby Township, Pennsylvania
Darby Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,622 at the 2000 census. Darby Township is a distinct municipality from the nearby and similarly named Darby Boro.-Geography:...
(later Darby Borough
Darby, Pennsylvania
Darby is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, along Darby Creek southwest of downtown Philadelphia. It has a public library founded in 1743 and a cemetery more than 300 years old. The Quakers lived there early in the colonial era. Darby was settled about 1660 and was...
). Three decades later, at the time of his death, he was still in public service, as a justice of the peace in Darby. Although the year of his birth has remained undocumented, his record as a state politician in the first decade of the 19th century indicates that he lived at least into his mid- to late sixties. The interment was in St. James’s (Old Swedes) Cemetery in Paschall (now a part of Philadelphia).