Career
He founded the National Intelligencer at Washington in 1800. Joseph Gales became his assistant in 1807 and sole proprietor in 1810. He was a friend, confidant and counselor to president Thomas Jefferson.
In February 1801 Smith published Jefferson"s Manual, "A Manual of Parliamentary Practice for the Use of the Senate of the United States."
In 1813 Smith was appointed Commissioner of the Revenue for the United States Treasury Department by President Madison, and on September 30, 1814, Secretary of the Treasury, ad interim.
During the period 1809-1819 he was president of the Bank of Washington and then president of the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States until the position was abolished in 1835.