Background
Smith was born in Charleston, South Carolina into a prominent family. He spent most of his childhood in Bermuda with his father.
Smith was born in Charleston, South Carolina into a prominent family. He spent most of his childhood in Bermuda with his father.
Josiah graduated from Harvard in 1725.
In 1730, he became involved in a theological dispute with Review Hugh Fisher of Dorchester, South Carolina on the subject of subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith as well as the right of the individual to private judgment. Both Smith and Fisher published sermons concerning the dispute.
In 1740, he championed the cause of George Whitefield and invited him to preach from his pulpit after he was refused admission to the local Episcopalian church.
In 1749, he had a stroke which left him unable to speak well. However, he continued to write and publish sermons.
Review Smith sided with the rebelling colonists in the American Revolution.
During the Siege of Charleston, he was taken as a prisoner of war. He was later paroled, but ordered to Philadelphia where he died.