John Walter Smith
Encyclopedia
John Walter Smith a member of the United States Democratic Party, served the State of Maryland
in the United States in several different positions. From 1899–1900, he was a Congressman
representing the 1st district of Maryland; from 1900–1904, he was the 44th Governor of Maryland
; and from 1908–1921, he was the junior United States Senator of Maryland.
Smith was born at Snow Hill, Maryland
, and attended private schools and Union Academy. His mother died during childbirth, and his father died when he was five. Ephraim King Wilson
assumed guardianship of Smith, and raised him. He engaged in the lumber
business in Maryland
, Virginia
, and North Carolina
before becoming president of the First National Bank of Snow Hill and director in many business and financial institutions.
Beginning his political career, Smith was elected to the Maryland State Senate
in 1889, 1893, and 1897, and served as president of the Senate in 1894. Following the death of U.S. Senator to Maryland Ephraim K. Wilson
in 1891, Smith sought to be elected to replace him, but lost nomination to fellow Democrat Charles H. Gibson
. He was elected to the 56th Congress in 1898 from the 1st Congressional district of Maryland, but served for less than a year before being unexpectedly nominated for Governor of Maryland
by the Democratic State Convention in 1899. Smith was victorious against incumbent governor Lloyd Lowndes, Jr.
As Governor, Smith promoted education
, labor, and healthcare reform. In education, Smith reorganized the public school system, guaranteed free textbooks for all students, appointed a school superintendent
, and removed the Agricultural College of Maryland (now known as the University of Maryland, College Park
) from private control and placed it under the guidance of the State. He also improved the State's workman compensation program, encouraged a merit system
for promotions, reorganized health laws and constructed a State psychiatric hospital
. Smith also freed the State from much of its debt by the time he departed from the position in 1904.
After another unsuccessful attempt at a Senate election in 1904, Smith was chosen to fill the vacancy resulting from the death of Senator William Pinkney Whyte
in 1908. He was successfully re-elected in 1909 and 1914 and served from March 25, 1908, to March 3, 1921. He lost election in 1920 for a third term as Senator to Ovington E. Weller.
As senator, Smith was chairman of the Committee to Investigate Trespassers Upon Land (62nd Congress), the Committee on the District of Columbia (63rd through 65th Congresses), and the Committee to Examine Branches of the Civil Service (66th Congress).
Smith retired to private life and died in Baltimore
, Maryland. He is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Snow Hill.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in the United States in several different positions. From 1899–1900, he was a Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
representing the 1st district of Maryland; from 1900–1904, he was the 44th Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
; and from 1908–1921, he was the junior United States Senator of Maryland.
Smith was born at Snow Hill, Maryland
Snow Hill, Maryland
Snow Hill is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Worcester County.-History:...
, and attended private schools and Union Academy. His mother died during childbirth, and his father died when he was five. Ephraim King Wilson
Ephraim King Wilson II
Ephraim King Wilson II the son of Ephraim King Wilson, was a Congressional Representative and a Senator from Maryland....
assumed guardianship of Smith, and raised him. He engaged in the lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
business in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
before becoming president of the First National Bank of Snow Hill and director in many business and financial institutions.
Beginning his political career, Smith was elected to the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
in 1889, 1893, and 1897, and served as president of the Senate in 1894. Following the death of U.S. Senator to Maryland Ephraim K. Wilson
Ephraim King Wilson II
Ephraim King Wilson II the son of Ephraim King Wilson, was a Congressional Representative and a Senator from Maryland....
in 1891, Smith sought to be elected to replace him, but lost nomination to fellow Democrat Charles H. Gibson
Charles H. Gibson
Charles Hopper Gibson was a U. S. Senator from Maryland, serving from 1891–1897. He also served as a U.S. Congressman from 1885–1891....
. He was elected to the 56th Congress in 1898 from the 1st Congressional district of Maryland, but served for less than a year before being unexpectedly nominated for Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
by the Democratic State Convention in 1899. Smith was victorious against incumbent governor Lloyd Lowndes, Jr.
Lloyd Lowndes, Jr.
Lloyd Lowndes, Jr. , a member of the United States Republican Party, was the 43rd Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1896 to 1900 and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the sixth district of Maryland from 1873 to 1875...
As Governor, Smith promoted education
Education reform
Education reform is the process of improving public education. Small improvements in education theoretically have large social returns, in health, wealth and well-being. Historically, reforms have taken different forms because the motivations of reformers have differed.A continuing motivation has...
, labor, and healthcare reform. In education, Smith reorganized the public school system, guaranteed free textbooks for all students, appointed a school superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
, and removed the Agricultural College of Maryland (now known as the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
) from private control and placed it under the guidance of the State. He also improved the State's workman compensation program, encouraged a merit system
Merit system
The merit system is the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections. It is the opposite of the spoils system.- History :...
for promotions, reorganized health laws and constructed a State psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
. Smith also freed the State from much of its debt by the time he departed from the position in 1904.
After another unsuccessful attempt at a Senate election in 1904, Smith was chosen to fill the vacancy resulting from the death of Senator William Pinkney Whyte
William Pinkney Whyte
William Pinkney Whyte , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was a politician who served the State of Maryland as a State Delegate, the State Comptroller, a United States Senator, the 35th Governor, the Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, and the State Attorney General.-Early life and...
in 1908. He was successfully re-elected in 1909 and 1914 and served from March 25, 1908, to March 3, 1921. He lost election in 1920 for a third term as Senator to Ovington E. Weller.
As senator, Smith was chairman of the Committee to Investigate Trespassers Upon Land (62nd Congress), the Committee on the District of Columbia (63rd through 65th Congresses), and the Committee to Examine Branches of the Civil Service (66th Congress).
Smith retired to private life and died in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland. He is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Snow Hill.