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William Smyth (congressman)
Encyclopedia
William Smyth was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer and judge from Iowa
.
Born in Eden, Ireland, Smyth attended rural schools as a child, completed preparatory studies and immigrated to the United States
with his parents in 1838, settling in Pennsylvania
. He moved to Iowa
in 1844, attended the University of Iowa
, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1847, commencing practice in Marion, Iowa
. Smyth served as prosecuting attorney
of Linn County, Iowa
from 1848 to 1853 and was appointed judge of the district court for the fourth judicial district of Iowa
in 1853, serving until 1857. He resumed practicing law and in 1858 served as chairman of the commission to codify and revise the Iowa State laws
. During the Civil War
, he served as colonel
of the 31st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
for two years.
Smyth was elected a Republican
to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district
the United States House of Representatives
in 1868, serving from March 1869 until his death in Marion, Iowa
on September 30, 1870 while running for reelection. He was interred in Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
Born in Eden, Ireland, Smyth attended rural schools as a child, completed preparatory studies and immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his parents in 1838, settling in 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...
. He moved to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
in 1844, attended the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1847, commencing practice in Marion, Iowa
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. Smyth served as prosecuting attorney
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
of Linn County, Iowa
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1848 to 1853 and was appointed judge of the district court for the fourth judicial district of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
in 1853, serving until 1857. He resumed practicing law and in 1858 served as chairman of the commission to codify and revise the Iowa State laws
Code of Iowa
The Code of Iowa contains the statutory laws of the State of Iowa. The Iowa Legislative Service Bureau is a non-partisan governmental agency that organizes, updates, and publishes the Iowa Code. It is republished in full every odd year, and is supplemented in even years.-External reference:....
. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he served as colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 31st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
31st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 31st Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 31st Iowa Infantry was organized at Davenport, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on October 13, 1862.The regiment was mustered out on...
for two years.
Smyth was elected a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
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...
in 1868, serving from March 1869 until his death in Marion, Iowa
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
on September 30, 1870 while running for reelection. He was interred in Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.