Oliver Hampton Smith (October 23, 1794 – March 19, 1859) was a United States representative and Senator from Indiana.
Oliver Hampton Smith | |
|---|---|
 Oliver Hampton Smith from Who-When-What Book, 1900 | |
| Indiana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1822–1824 | |
| Member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana's 3rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829 | |
| Preceded by | John Test |
| Succeeded by | John Test |
| United States Senator from Indiana | |
| In office March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843 | |
| Preceded by | William Hendricks |
| Succeeded by | Edward A. Hannegan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 23, 1794 Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania |
| Died | March 19, 1859 (aged 64) Charlestown, Indiana |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican Whig |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Early life
editBorn on Smith's Island, near Trenton, New Jersey, (is also believed to have been born at the Smith Family Farmstead in Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania[1]) he attended the common schools and moved west, eventually settling in Lawrenceburg, Indiana in 1818. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1820, commencing practice in Connersville. From 1822 to 1824 he was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives and was prosecuting attorney for the third judicial district, 1824–1825.
Politics
edit
Smith was elected to the Twentieth Congress (March 4, 1827–March 3, 1829) and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1828; he was then elected as a Whig to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1843. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills (Twenty-sixth Congress) and a member of the Committee on Public Lands (Twenty-seventh Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection and moved to Indianapolis where he resumed the practice of law. He declined to be a candidate for Governor of Indiana in 1845 and engaged in the railroad business in Indianapolis. He died in that city in 1859; interment was in Crown Hill Cemetery.
References
edit- ^ "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes Lillee D. Zieran and Susan M. Zacher (September 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Smith Family Farmstead" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-10-01.
- United States Congress. "Oliver H. Smith (id: S000599)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
