John Walter Smith

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John Walter Smith

John Walter Smith (born February 5, 1845 in Worcester County , Maryland , †  April 19, 1925 in Baltimore , Maryland) was an American politician and governor of the state of Maryland from 1900 to 1904 . He also represented his state in both chambers of the US Congress .

Early years and political advancement

After the untimely death of his parents, John Smith grew up as an orphan. He was raised by the future US Senator Ephraim King Wilson . Smith attended private schools and the Union Academy . He then worked in the timber business and in the insurance industry. Smith was involved in many other businesses in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina . Among other things, he became president of the First National Bank in Snow Hill .

Smith was a member of the Democratic Party . He was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1889, 1893, and 1897 . In 1894 he was President of the Senate. After the death of Senator Ephraim Wilson in 1891, he hoped in vain to be named his successor. Between March 4, 1899 and January 12, 1900 he represented his state in the US House of Representatives in Washington .

Governor of maryland

In 1899, Smith was surprisingly nominated by his party as a candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election. After he was able to beat the incumbent Lloyd Lowndes in the election on November 7, 1899 , he was able to take up his four-year term on January 10, 1900. At the same time he resigned his mandate in Congress. During his tenure, the school system in Maryland was improved. At that time, among other things, a first law on free school books was passed. The health policy laws have also been changed, thereby improving the health system in general. A sanatorium for tuberculosis patients was also established at that time . The state agricultural school was reorganized and subordinated to the state. The organization of elections has been improved. The governor also worked to reduce the national debt.

US Senator

Smith's tenure as governor ended on January 13, 1904. In the same year he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Senate. After the death of Senator William Pinkney Whyte in 1908, he was appointed as his successor as Class 3 Senator . Smith ended the legislature started by Whyte and was re-elected in 1908 and 1914, respectively. So he was between March 25, 1908 and March 3, 1921 as representative of Maryland in the US Senate. There he was a member of several committees ( Committee to Investigate Trespassers Upon Land, Committee on the District of Columbia and Committee to Examine Branches of the Civil Service ). In 1920 the attempt for re-election failed. His Senate seat was lost to Ovington Weller .

After the end of his time in the US Congress, Smith withdrew from politics and devoted himself to his private interests. He died in Baltimore in April 1925. He had two children with his wife, Mary Francis Richardson.

Web links

Commons : John Walter Smith  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files