Gerrit+Smith

Gerrit Smith(1797-1874)

Background: Lived most of his life in small town of Peterboro, New York. Born in Utica, New York. Graduated from Hamilton college in 1818. Soon after which he received much of his fathers (Peter Smith) landholdings. Became very rich off of it, especially during the late 1830s when there was a nationwide financial depression. He came out of the depression richer then ever before.

Slavery Efforts: He was all for and supported efforts to colonize black slaves. Smith became the leader of a small faction of political abolitionists during the 1840s. These abolitionists nominated Smith for President of the United States. He was originally a non violent abolitionist before the 1850's, but certain key events in his life such as the fugitive slave law caused him to take a more violent perspective.

Family Life: Gerrit Smith's father was Peter Smith, Smith's mother was his father's first wife Elizabeth Livingston, who with Peter Smith bore four children. Gerrit Smith had a sister Cornelia Smith Cohrane, who lived from 1825 to 1890. He had two brothers that both and mental disabilities, one older; Peter Skenandoah Smith lived from 1795 to 1858, and one younger; Adolphus Lent Smith who lived from 1800 to 1844. Smith married Ann Carroll Fitzhugh, and they had eight children together.

Smith in Politics: Gerrit Smith was a candidate for president in the years 1848, 1856 and 1860. He served for congress in the 1853-1854 session representing the Madison and Oswego counties. He resigned after his first term.