Background
Smith was born in Poquonoc Village, Groton, New London County, Connecticut, to Amos D. Smith and Priscilla (Mitchell) Smith. His mother was descended from Mayflower passengers John Alden and Priscilla Mullens.
governor of Rhode Island manufacturer
Smith was born in Poquonoc Village, Groton, New London County, Connecticut, to Amos D. Smith and Priscilla (Mitchell) Smith. His mother was descended from Mayflower passengers John Alden and Priscilla Mullens.
Smith was a store manager in Salem, Connecticut, at the age of sixteen. Next year, he moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where he worked for a lumber business that he became the owner of a decade later. James Y. Smith. They owned mills in both Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Smith then branched out from lumber to investing in cotton mills.
Smith was active in politics as a Republican. He was Mayor of Providence for two one-year terms from 1855 to 1857.
He succeeded William C. Cozzens on May 26, 1863. He was reelected two times, then declined to run again.
He was succeeded by fellow Republican and Civil war general Ambrose Burnside on May 29, 1866.
After leaving office, Smith founded the James Y. Smith Manufacturing Company. He continued as a manufacturer until his death in 1876. He was chairman of the commission to build the new Providence City Hall.
His death occasioned great public mourning in Providence.
Public offices were closed, and a funeral procession of mourners in carriages and on foot followed the body to its resting place in Swan Point Cemetery.
He was a member of the House of Representatives of Rhode Island. He was also involved in various enterprises. Then was president of the Providence Board of Trade.
Director of the Providence and Worcester Railway Company.
And a member of five commissions in the city government.
Married Emily Brown, August 13, 1835.