William Nathan Harrell Smith
Born: September 24, 1812
Birthplace: Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Father: Dr. William Lay Smith 1782 – 1813
(Buried: Sharp Family Cemetery, Hertford County, North Carolina)
Mother: Ann "Nancy" Harrell 1791 – 1845
(Buried: Sharp Family Cemetery, Hertford County, North Carolina)
Wife: Mary Olivia Wise 1821 – 1900
(Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina)
Children:
James M. Smith 1840 – 1851
(Buried: Wise Cemetery, Murfreesboro, North Carolina)
William Wise Smith 1847 – 1923
(Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina)
Edward Chambers Smith 1857 – 1940
(Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina)
Political Party: Whig Party, Know – Nothing Party, Democratic Party
Education:
1834: Graduated from Yale College
1836: Graduated from Yale Law School
Occupation before War:
1839 – 1859: Attorney in Murfreesboro, North Carolina
1840: Member of North Carolina State House of Commons
1848: North Carolina State Senator
1849 – 1857: Solicitor of his district in North Carolina
1858: Member of North Carolina State House of Commons
1859 – 1861: United States Congressman from North Carolina
1859 – 1861: Member of House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee
Civil War Career:
Supporter of the Union during the Secession Crisis
Labored unsuccessfully for some sort of accommodation
Lincoln's call for volunteers threw his support for the Confederacy
1861–1862: North Carolina Delegate Confederate Provisional Congress
1862 – 1865: Confederate States Congressman from North Carolina
1862 – 1864: Chairman of House Elections Committee
1862 – 1864: Member of House Medical Department Committee
1862 – 1863: Member of House Rules and Officers of the House Committee
1864 – 1865: Member of House Claims Committee
1864 – 1865: Member of House Rules and Officers of the House Committee
Known to have been North Carolina's most effective Congressman
His chief concern in the Congress was the economy
He conceded the Central government broad control over volunteers
He felt the Central government had authority to regulate commerce
He sought to reduce the impact of legislation on states and individuals
He felt skilled labor should stay out of the army.
He wanted a quick settlement of claims against the Confederacy.
Occupation after War:
1865 – 1866: Member of North Carolina State House of commons
Supporter of President Andrew Johnson's reconstruction Plan
Leader of the Conservative Party in the State of North Carolina
1868: North Carolina Delegate Democratic Party National Convention
1870 – 1872: Lived in Norfolk, Virginia
1872 – 1878: Attorney in Raleigh, North Carolina
1878 – 1889: Chief Justice of North Carolina State Supreme Court
Died: November 14, 1889
Place of Death: Raleigh, North Carolina
Age at time of Death: 77 years old
Burial Place: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina
Last edited by a moderator: