Background
James was born on January 28, 1859 in San Francisco, California, United States, the son of Patrick and Ann Smith.
James was born on January 28, 1859 in San Francisco, California, United States, the son of Patrick and Ann Smith.
After a common-school education, he graduated from Santa Clara College in 1877 with the degree of B. S. ; in 1878 he received the degrees of B. A. and M. A. He studied law at Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco.
Smith was admitted to the bar in January 1881 and began the practice of his profession.
On May 6, 1898, was commissioned colonel, 16t California Volunteer Infantry, and commanded that regiment in the early expedition to the Philippine Islands that followed the outbreak of the War with Spain. His regiment played a brilliant part in the first day's fighting at the capture of the city of Manila. Upon occupation of the city by the American forces, he was appointed deputy provost marshal, and in October was placed in command of the 1th Brigade, 1th Division, VIII Army Corps.
Early in January 1899 he was appointed a member of the military commission to confer with commissioners designated by Emilio Aguinaldo regarding peace between the American forces and the Filipino insurgents. Soon afterward he took part in the engagement at Santa Ana, February 5, and in the subsequent fighting at Taguig, February 15-March 1, 1899. He was officially commended in dispatches for gallantry in these actions, and was placed in command of the island of Negros as a sub-district of the insular military government.
Advanced to the grade of brigadier-general, United States Volunteers, April 24, 1899, he was designated military governor of Negros and subsequently military governor of the Visayas. So successful was he in winning the good-will and the respect of the Filipinos that during the socalled Philippine Insurrection the island groups under his control gave little or no trouble to the American authorities.
With the inauguration of civil government in the islands under William Howard Taft, he was discharged from the military service and appointed an associate justice of the supreme court of the Philippines, June 17, 1901, an office he filled most creditably.
In January 1903 he resigned to accept the portfolio of secretary of public instruction. A member of the Philippine Commission, which was virtually the cabinet of the governor-general, he was appointed as vice-governor in January 1906. On September 20, 1906, he succeeded Henry Clay Ide as governor-general and served with great ability and marked success until May 1909, when he went to the United States.
He resigned to practise law in the United States, his resignation taking effect November 11, 1909. It was during his term of office that the Philippine legislature met for the first time, October. 16, 1907, and it was largely due to his tactful as well as practical assistance that the two houses that formed the legislature worked in comparative harmony. He served also as relief justice for the District of Columbia supreme court and court of appeals.
He died at Washington after a severe heart attack that occurred while he was on the bench in an important case.
On August 13, 1885, he married Lillie A. Dunnigan of Santa Clara (died on March 1910). He was survived by his son.