top of page

Colonel James Smith

35192878_10160467897660055_2322233360329

James Smith (September 17, 1719–July 11, 1806), was an Irish/American lawyer and a signer to the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Pennsylvania.

He was born in Ireland; his family immigrated to Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1729.  Smith attended the Philadelphia Academy.  He studied law at the office of his brother George and was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania, initially practicing near Shippensburg, and later near York.  He became captain of the militia there. He was appointed to the provincial convention in Philadelphia in 1775, to the state constitutional convention in 1776, and was elected to the Continental Congress. He was re-elected to Congress in 1785 but declined to attend because of his advanced age. The surname Smith is probably anglicized from the Irish surname McGowan.  

Smith died on July 11, 1806, and is buried in York, Pennsylvania, First Presbyterian Churchyard.

19030737_10158874342525055_2934662997258
smithjames22.jpg
62388236_10161923006905055_6565476841925
19030496_10158874338135055_7735617963641

Last Updated:  June 14, 2024

​

Contact the Webmaster

The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.

Feel free to contact our regent for more information. Please direct any questions about memberships to our registrar.  Thank you and we look forward to answering your questions!

All photos courtesy of chapter members.

bottom of page