William Smith (South Carolina senator)

William Smith
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the York district
In office November 28, 1831 – December 17, 1831
Preceded by	Benjamin Person
Succeeded by	William Hill
United States Senator from South Carolina
In office November 29, 1826 – March 4, 1831
Preceded by	William Harper
Succeeded by	Stephen Miller
In office December 4, 1816 – March 4, 1823
Preceded by	John Taylor
Succeeded by	Robert Hayne
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the York district
In office November 22, 1824 – November 29, 1826
Preceded by	Multi-member district
Succeeded by	William McGill
Personal details
Born	1762 North Carolina, British America
Died	June 26, 1840 (aged 77–78) Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican (Before 1825) Democratic (1828–1840)

William Smith (1762 – June 26, 1840) was chosen as a Democratic-Republican to the U.S. Senate representing South Carolina in 1816. The legislature declined to re-elect him when his term expired in 1823. He was narrowly chosen senator in 1826 and was again replaced in 1831.

Smith was one of the first Southerners to argue, at the time of the Missouri Compromise in 1820, that slavery was a positive good; nevertheless, he opposed John C. Calhoun's doctrine and tactic of nullification. In 1828, seven electors from Georgia chose him for vice president, instead of Calhoun, the Democratic nominee. He was also a splinter candidate for vice president in 1836: Virginia refused to accept Richard Mentor Johnson as the Democratic vice presidential candidate, and voted for the ticket of Martin Van Buren and William Smith, putting Johnson two electoral votes short of a majority; the Senate chose Johnson.

In 1832, he moved to Louisiana, having lost his political base in South Carolina; in 1836, he moved on to Huntsville, Alabama, and was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives for Madison County from August 1, 1836, holding that seat for the rest of his life.

On March 3, 1837, outgoing President Andrew Jackson nominated Smith to the Supreme Court. The Senate confirmed Smith's nomination by a vote of 23–18; nevertheless, Smith declined to serve.

External links

• William Smith at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States Senate
Preceded by John Taylor	U.S. Senator (Class 2) from South Carolina 1816–1823 Served alongside: John Gaillard	Succeeded by Robert Hayne
Preceded by William Harper	U.S. Senator (Class 3) from South Carolina 1826–1831 Served alongside: Robert Hayne	Succeeded by Stephen Miller
Party political offices
New political party	Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States(1) 1828	Succeeded by Martin Van Buren
Preceded by Martin Van Buren	Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States(2) 1836	Succeeded by Richard Johnson(3)
		Succeeded by James Polk(3)
		Succeeded by Littleton Tazewell(3)
Notes and references
1. The Democratic nominee split this year between Smith and John Calhoun. 2. The Democratic nominee split this year between Smith and Richard Johnson. 3. The Democratic nominee was split this year between three candidates.