United States representative politician
He received a limited schooling but participated in the American Revolutionary War. Smelt was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 9th United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative Joseph Bryan. He was reelected to the 10th and 11th Congresses (September 1, 1806 – March 3, 1811).
He was not a candidate for reelection to the Twelfth Congress.
His died on October 22, 1818 in Augusta, Georgia.