Henry Smith (February 10, 1766June 28, 1818) was the fifth Governor of Rhode Island from October 15, 1805 to May 7, 1806. Smith was born in

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

in the

Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was one of the original Thirteen Colonies established on the east coast of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It was founded by Roger Williams. It was an English colony from 1636 until ...

. He was educated in Providence, and became a successful merchant. He served as an officer in the militia, and attained the rank of colonel in a Providence County unit known as the Providence Independent Light Dragoons. As a result of his business success, in the early 1800s Smith constructed a mansion at Smith and Davis Streets on Smith Hill in Providence. Known as the Colonel Henry Smith House, it stood until the early 1920s, when it was razed to allow for construction of an annex for the

Rhode Island State House The Rhode Island State House, the capitol of the state of Rhode Island, is located at 900 Smith Street just below the crest of Smith Hill, on the border of downtown in Providence. It is a neoclassical building designed by McKim, Mead & White wh ...

. Elected to the Rhode Island Senate in 1803, he was the leader of the senate or "first senator" when Governor

Arthur Fenner Arthur Fenner (December 10, 1745October 15, 1805) was an American politician who served as the fourth Governor of Rhode Island from 1790 until his death in 1805. He has the seventh longest gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U.S. histor ...

died. Lieutenant Governor

Paul Mumford Paul Mumford (March 5, 1734 – July 20, 1805) was an American politician and lawyer. Between 1803 and 1805 he was lieutenant governor of the state of Rhode Island. Career Mumford grew up during the British colonial era. In 1754 he graduated fr ...

had died before Fenner, so as first senator Smith succeeded to the governorship. He died on June 28, 1818 and was buried at

North Burial Ground The North Burial Ground is a cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island dating to 1700, the first public cemetery in Providence. It is located north of downtown Providence, bounded by North Main Street, Branch Avenue, the Moshassuck River, and Ceme ...

in Providence.

References

External links

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. ''Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978'', Vol. 4. Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols. {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Henry 1766 births 1818 deaths Governors of Rhode Island Country Party (Rhode Island) state governors of the United States Rhode Island state senators Burials at North Burying Ground (Providence) People of colonial Rhode Island Politicians from Providence, Rhode Island