Meriwether Smith

Meriwether Smith (born 1730 in Essex County , Virginia Colony , † January 25, 1790 ibid) was an American politician . From 1778 to 1779 and in 1781 he was a delegate for Virginia in the Continental Congress .

Career

Meriwether Smith grew up on the family's Bathurst plantation in Essex County and attended public schools in his home country. He later became head of the plantation. He was also a member of the militia, in which he rose to the rank of colonel. As early as 1766, he participated in the American protest against the British Stamp Act . In the 1770s he joined the revolutionary movement. First he belonged in the years 1774 and 1775 to the then still colonial House of Burgesses . In 1774 he became a member of the Essex County Safety Committee. He was also a member of several revolutionary bodies. Between 1776 and 1778 he was a member of the Virginia House of Representatives . In 1778 and 1779 as well as in 1781 he represented his state in the Continental Congress. In the years 1781, 1782, 1785 and 1788 he sat again in the state parliament. In 1788 he was also a delegate to the convention that ratified the United States Constitution for Virginia . He spoke unsuccessfully against the adoption of the federal constitution.

Meriwether Smith died on January 25, 1790 and was buried on his Bathurst plantation . His son George (1762-1811) became governor of Virginia .

Web links

• Meriwether Smith in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Meriwether Smith in the database of Find a Grave (English)