John Smilie
John Smilie (1741 – December 30, 1812) was an Irish-American politician from Newtownards, County Down, Ireland. He served in both houses of the state legislature and represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House from 1793 until 1795 and from 1799 to 1812.
Biography
Smilie was born in Ireland and immigrated on May 24, 1762, settling first in Lancaster County. He moved to Fayette in 1780. He was a prominent Jeffersonian and was identified with the "'Quid" branch of the party. In 1806–07, during the debates over the abolition of the slave trade, Smilie was among the most outspoken against the evils of the slave trade. He argued that slaves illegally imported after 1808 should be freed, and that slave smugglers deserved the death penalty. Neither provision was adopted.
Congress
He was elected to the Thirteenth Congress in 1812 but died before it opened.
In 1791, Smilie was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society.[1]
Death
He died in Washington, D.C., aged 71, and is buried in the Congressional Cemetery there.
See also
- List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)
References
- ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
Further reading
- Everett, Edward. "John Smilie, Forgotten Champion of Early Western Pennsylvania." Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine 33 (September–December 1950), 77–89.
External links
- Biographic sketch at U.S. Congress website
- Grave Location in the Congressional Cemetery
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by John Woods | Member, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, representing Fayette County November 2, 1786 – November 19, 1789 | Succeeded by Nathaniel Breading |
U.S. House of Representatives | ||
Preceded by None | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district 1793-1795 | Succeeded by None |
Preceded by William Findley | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district 1799–1803 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district 1803–1812 | Succeeded by |
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- Alexander Addison
- Hugh Henry Brackenridge
- David Bradford
- William Findley
- Thomas Gaddis
- Albert Gallatin
- Alexander Hamilton
- Herman Husband
- Henry Lee
- Daniel Morgan
- Robert Philson
- John Smilie
- George Washington
- John Wilkins, Jr.
- Western Pennsylvania
- Andrew Rabb House
- Bethel Presbyterian Church
- Black Horse Tavern
- David Bradford House
- Defibaugh Tavern
- Fort Gaddis
- Huffman Distillery and Chopping Mill
- John Corbley Farm
- Mingo Creek Presbyterian Church and Churchyard
- Oliver Miller Homestead
- Lobb's Cemetery and Yohogania County Courthouse Site
- Redstone Old Fort
- William Crawford House
- Whiskey Point
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