Jeremiah Smith (1759-1842) - Find a Grave Memorial

US Congressman, New Hampshire Governor, Jurist. He attended Harvard College in 1777 but left to serve in the Revolutionary War, seeing action and receiving a wound at the Battle of Bennington. In 1780 he graduated from Queen's (now Rutgers) College in New Jersey. He then studied law and in 1786 began practice in Peterboro. Smith served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1788 to 1791. In 1790 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Federalist and served from March 1791 until his resignation in July 1797. He served as US Attorney for New Hampshire from 1797 to 1800 and was Rockingham County Probate Judge from 1800 to 1802. In 1801 he was appointed US Circuit Court Judge, serving until the law authorizing these courts was repealed in 1802. From 1802 to 1809 Smith was Chief Justice of New Hampshire's Superior Court of Judicature. He served as Governor from 1809 to 1810. In 1813 Smith became Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire, serving until 1816. He then returned to the practice of law and also became President of a local bank and Treasurer of Phillips Exeter Academy. The Governor Jeremiah Smith House in Exeter is today an inn and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bio by: Bill McKern

Inscription

HERE REST THE REMAINS OF
JEREMIAH SMITH
In early youth,
a volunteer in the cause of the Revolution,
also wounded at the Battle of Bennington;
Afterwards,
a Representative in Congress by the choice of
the People of New Hampshire,
and an able and efficient supporter of the measures
OF WASHINGTON;
A District Attorney of the United States, and
Judge of the Circuit Court, by the
appointment of Washington's successor;
In years yet more mature, Governor of New Hampshire and twice its Chief Justice.
He was, at every period of his life, well deserving of his Country by his courage, his fidelity, and his devotedness to the publick service; equalled by few in original power, practical wisdom, and judicial learning and acuteness; surpassed in the love of honor, justice and truth, by none.
He was born at Peterborough, November 29, 1759, and lived in Exeter from 1797 till a few months before his death, at Dover, September 21st, 1842; always most loved in those circles of domestick affection where he was best known, and always a Christian, both by his convictions and by the habits of a life protracted, in extraordinary cheerfulness and energy, to above four score and two years.