William N. H. Smith
Chief Justice of theNorth Carolina Supreme Court
In office 1878–1889
Preceded by	Richmond Mumford Pearson
Succeeded by	Augustus Summerfield Merrimon
Member of theC.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's1st district
In office 1862–1865
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's1st district
In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by	Henry M. Shaw
Succeeded by	John R. French
Member of theNorth Carolina Senate
In office 1848–1848
Personal details
Born	(1812-09-24)September 24, 1812 Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Died	November 14, 1889(1889-11-14) (aged 77) Raleigh, North Carolina
Resting place	Historic Oakwood Cemetery
Political party	Democratic Opposition (1859–1861)
Education	Yale College Yale Law School

William Nathan Harrell Smith (September 24, 1812 – November 14, 1889) was an American politician and lawyer who served as aUnited States Representative fromNorth Carolina, and as the Chief Justice of theNorth Carolina Supreme Court.

William N. H. Smith was born inMurfreesboro, North Carolina, September 24, 1812, and attended the common schools in Murfreesboro, N.C.,Kingston, Rhode Island, andColchester, Connecticut andEast Lyme, Connecticut. He graduated fromYale College in 1834 and fromYale Law School in 1836, and wasadmitted to the bar and commenced practice in Murfreesboro, N.C., in 1839.

Smith held several local offices, including being a member of theState House of Commons in 1840, 1858, 1865, and 1866. He also served in theState Senate in 1848; was solicitor (prosecutor) of the first judicial district of North Carolina for eight years, and was elected as anOpposition Party candidate to theThirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861). He was unsuccessful candidate (backed by theAmerican Party and manyDemocrats) forSpeaker.^[1] He served in theConfederate Congress in 1862–1865, and was delegate to theDemocratic National Convention at New York City in 1868. He served as counsel for GovernorW. W. Holden in his 1871impeachment trial, and waschief justice of theNorth Carolina Supreme Court from 1878 to 1889.

Smith died inRaleigh, North Carolina, November 14, 1889, and his remains were interred inHistoric Oakwood Cemetery.

 This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.

• North Carolina Historical Marker
• United States Congress."William N. H. Smith (id: S000634)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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