Background
He was supposedly born in 1735 in Virginia, United States.
clergyman merchant politician statesman
He was supposedly born in 1735 in Virginia, United States.
There is no information about his education.
Smith was ministering to a Baptist congregation on the forks of the Cheat River, in what is now West Virginia in 1790. The following year he moved to Columbia, Ohio, later a part of Cincinnati, where he took charge of a recently organized church, and for several years combined preaching with the more lucrative operations of merchant and farmer.
In 1798 he entered the first legislative assembly of the Northwest Territory and in this and the succeeding assembly was noted for his opposition to Governor St. Clair. As a reward for his activity in promoting statehood he was selected, in April 1803, as one of the two senators from Ohio. In addition to local connections, Smith expanded his trading and speculative activities into West Florida, where he followed the usual practice of taking an oath of allegiance to the Spanish king, and where for a time Reuben Kemper represented him.
Smith took his seat in the Senate in the fall of 1803. He was credited with one speech only, but conferred frequently with President Jefferson. He busied himself principally with army contracts, land deals, and the interest of his constituents.
Smith began to support completely Aaron Burr. He furthered the latter's projects. Smith later visited Frankfort while a grand jury was investigating Burr's conduct, and his prompt departure indicated a wish to avoid witnessing against his former associate.
Later he went to New Orleans to provide Gen. James Wilkinson with provisions for his forces there. While in that city Smith learned that he also had been indicted for complicity with Burr. He immediately withdrew to West Florida and later surrendered himself to the governor of the Mississippi territory, and was allowed to go to Richmond, under escort, by way of Cincinnati. When Burr was acquitted in the Virginia court, the bill against Smith was quashed. Rumors of Smith's complicity with Burr and his obvious neglect of his senatorial duties had stirred up his enemies in the Ohio assembly and in Cincinnati to demand his resignation.
When he arrived in Washington, January 1807, his colleagues in the Senate appointed a committee headed by John Quincy Adams to investigate the charges against him. The committee favored his expulsion but its recommendation failed of passage by one vote less than the required two-thirds. Smith resigned his seat.
For a time he carried on his business operations in Cincinnati and vicinity but the notoriety gained in connection with Burr led to delay in settling his government contracts and ultimately forced him into bankruptcy. Removing to West Florida in 1812, he resided for a time in Pensacola and later retired to St. Francisville (now in Louisiana), where he carried on his clerical and business activities until his death.
Serving as a member of the United States Senate, John Smith is best known for his association, altogether too intimate, with Aaron Burr. Namely, he furthered the latter's projects, which were faults, such as a project for a canal around the falls of the Ohio and others. He avoided witnessing against his former associate when were investigated charges against him and expulsed his seat and reputation till the end of his life.
He initially supported President Jefferson, then Aaron Burr.
He had a gift as a speaker, that brought him into public life.
