Francis Smith

Education

Born in Windsor, New York, Edwards completed preparatory studies. He attended Hamilton (New York) College (now Colgate University), but did not graduate. He studied law.

Career

He was admitted to the bar in New York City May 20, 1840, and practiced in Sherburne and Albany. He moved to Fredonia in 1851 and continued the practice of law. He was appointed master and examiner in chancery for Chenango County in 1842.

He was appointed special county surrogate of Chautauqua County in 1853, and served until November 1, 1855.

Edwards was elected as the candidate of the American Party to the Thirty-fourth Congress and served from March 4, 1855, to February 28, 1857, when he resigned. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1856 to the Thirty-fifth Congress.

He settled in Dunkirk, New York, in 1859, and resumed the practice of his profession. City attorney for nine years.

He retired from the practice of law in 1892.

Edwards was elected police justice in 1895 and served until ten days before his death. He died in Dunkirk, New York, on May 20, 1899. He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery, Fredonia, New New York

Achievements

• Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Lieut. (A/Capt) Francis Ryan Smith, M.C. (Australian FC). (FRANCE) This officer combines high individual enterprise and determination with exceptionally able leadership. These qualities were conspicuous on 14 October, when, leading a patrol of five machines, he saw a formation of twelve Fokker biplanes above him. Relying on the co-operation of another higher formation of Bristol machines, he, deliberately manoeuvred his formation into a disadvantageous position in order that our higher patrol might be able to attack the enemy while the latter's attention was concentrated upon destroying his, Lt. Smith's, formation. The stratagem was entirely successful, with the result that two enemy machines were destroyed and two others were believed to crash. The Fokkers were then reinforced by eight more machines, and in the ensuing combat Lt. Smith shot down one in flames, his patrol destroying two others. We suffered no casualties.