Lawyer, Federalist politician, and the twenty-third Governor of Connecticut. Smith remained active in religious and academic organizations after retiring from office, notably serving as president of both the American Bible Society and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
| When Burke met | 1811 |
| Where Burke met | Sharon, CT |
| Occupation | Civil Office |
| Interaction with Burke | Wrote letters of introduction for Burke |
| Identity Status | Confirmed |
| Genealogy | WikiTree |
| Memoir Pages | 89 |
Notes
John Cotton Smith (February 12, 1765 – December 7, 1845) was a lawyer, Federalist politician, and the twenty-third Governor of Connecticut. Born in Sharon, Connecticut—though some historical accounts note his birth year as 1762 or 1763—he was the son of Reverend Cotton Mather Smith and Temperance Worthington. After graduating from Yale College in 1783, he married Margaret Evertson and was admitted to the bar in 1787. Smith served in the Connecticut House of Representatives, where he was twice Speaker, and the U.S. House of Representatives (1800–1806). He was appointed a state Superior Court judge in 1809, became Lieutenant Governor in 1811, and served as Governor from 1812 until his political defeat in 1817. Retiring to his Sharon estate, Smith remained active in religious and academic organizations, notably serving as president of both the American Bible Society and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
Sources
Burke, William. Memoir of William Burke: A Soldier of the Revolution, Reformed from Intemperance, and for Many Years a Consistent and Devoted Christian; Carefully Prepared from a Journal Kept by Himself; to Which Is Added, an Extract from a Sermon Preached at His Funeral, by Rev. Nathaniel Miner. Hartford, CT: Case, Tiffany, 1837.