Lyndon Ambrose Smith (July 15, 1854March 5, 1918) was an American educator, lawyer and

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

politician who served as the 14th Attorney General and the 15th Lieutenant Governor of

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

Life and career

Smith was born in

Boscawen, New Hampshire Boscawen is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,998 at the 2020 census. History The native Pennacook people called the area ''Contoocook'', meaning "place of the river near pines". In March 1697, Hanna ...

in 1854. His father Ambrose Smith was a clergyman and

congregational Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...

pastor; his mother Cynthia Egerton was a descendant of Mayflower passenger and Plymouth colony governor William Bradford. Smith attended

Dartmouth College Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native A ...

and served as the superintendent of schools in

Norwich, Vermont Norwich is a town in Windsor County, in the U.S. state of Vermont. The population was 3,612 at the 2020 census. Home to some of the state of Vermont's wealthiest residents, the municipality is a commuter town for nearby Hanover, New Hampshir ...

while in school. He graduated as valedictorian in 1880. He later worked with the National Commissioner of Education and as the superintendent of the

World Cotton Centennial The World Cotton Centennial (also known as the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition) was a World's Fair held in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States in 1884. At a time when nearly one third of all cotton produced in the United Sta ...

's educational department. He also earned a law degree at

Georgetown University Law Center The Georgetown University Law Center (Georgetown Law) is the law school of Georgetown University, a private research university in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1870 and is the largest law school in the United States by enrollment and ...

. In 1885 Smith moved to Minnesota, settling in

Montevideo, Minnesota Montevideo is a city in Chippewa County, Minnesota, Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,383 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chippewa County, Minnesota, Chippewa County. The town ...

and establishing a law practice. In 1886, he married Dora Rogers, a teacher originally from Maine. Together they had a daughter Charlotte (b. 1888). Smith's political career began in 1889 when he was elected attorney for

Chippewa County, Minnesota Chippewa County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,598. Its county seat is Montevideo. The county was formed in 1862, and was organized in 1868. History Chippewa County was organized on M ...

. He served only one term but was later elected Lieutenant Governor under Republican

John Lind John Lind is the name of: * John Lind (barrister) (1737–1781), English lawyer and political writer * John Lind (politician) (1854–1930), US politician * John Lind (female impersonator) (1877–1940), female impersonator See also

*Jon Lind, ...

in 1899 and re-elected under his successor Samuel Van Sant in 1901. He returned to the position of Chippewa County attorney from 1903 to 1909 when he was appointed as assistant state Attorney General. Smith later ran for the office of Attorney General as a Republican, winning his first term in 1912 and re-election in 1914 and 1916. Smith died while in office on March 5, 1918. He is buried in Orchard Grove Cemetery in

Kittery, Maine Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals. The southernmost town in t ...

Electoral history

*1912 Race for Attorney General (Republican Primary) **Lyndon A. Smith 84,816 **Thomas Fraser 56,137 *1912 Race for Attorney General (General Election) **Lyndon A. Smith (Republican) 166,950 **William F. Donohue (Democrat) 83,997 **J. H. Morse (Prohibition) 27,140 *1914 Race for Attorney General (Republican Primary) **Lyndon A. Smith 104,653 ** James Manahan 76,110 *1914 Race for Attorney General (General Election) **Lyndon A. Smith (Republican) 195,372 **Neil M. Cronin (Democrat) 94,025 **August V. Rieke (Progressive) 16,736 *1916 Race for Attorney General (General Election) **Lyndon A. Smith (Republican) 263,285 (unopposed)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Lyndon A. 1854 births 1918 deaths People from Montevideo, Minnesota Lieutenant Governors of Minnesota Minnesota Attorneys General Minnesota Republicans People from Boscawen, New Hampshire Dartmouth College alumni Georgetown University Law Center alumni 19th-century American politicians