Edward Dunlap Smith (1807 – March 28, 1883) was a

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

clergyman and served as

Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives The chaplain of the United States House of Representatives is the officer of the United States House of Representatives responsible for beginning each day's proceedings with a prayer. The House cites the first half of Article 1, Section 2, Claus ...

(1834–1835).

Early life

Edward Dunlap Smith was born in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, the son of a prominent ironmaster. He was a graduate of

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...

, the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...

and

Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of ...

.New York Times Obituary: March 29, 1883.

Ministry

Smith served a Presbyterian church in Washington, D.C., before moving to New York City's Old Chelsea Presbyterian Church (West 22nd Street) in 1838 and preached there for 30 years before retiring.

Chaplain of the House of Representatives

On Dec. 1, 1834, Rev. Edward Dunlap Smith was appointed chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.Presbyterian Historical Society, Montreat, NC

Personal life

Smith met his wife Jane Blair Cary, daughter Virginia Randolph and Wilson Jefferson Cary, while a student at the

. The Smiths were the parents of four sons, including, Archibald Cary Smith the celebrated marine architect, and two daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Edward Dunlap 1807 births 1883 deaths American Presbyterian ministers Princeton University alumni University of Virginia alumni Princeton Theological Seminary alumni Chaplains of the United States House of Representatives 19th-century American clergy