Lyndon A. Smith

Lyndon Ambrose Smith (July 15, 1854 – March 5, 1918) was an American educator, lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 14th Attorney General and the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota.

Lyndon A. Smith
15th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
In office January 3, 1899 – January 5, 1903
Governor	John Lind Samuel Van Sant
Preceded by	John L. Gibbs
Succeeded by	Ray W. Jones
14th Minnesota Attorney General
In office 1912–1918
Governor	Adolph O. Eberhart Winfield S. Hammond J. A. A. Burnquist
Preceded by	George T. Simpson
Succeeded by	Clifford L. Hilton
Personal details
Born	July 15, 1854 Boscawen, New Hampshire
Died	March 5, 1918 (aged 63) Saint Paul, Minnesota
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Dora Rogers
Profession	educator, lawyer, state attorney general

Life and career

Smith was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire in 1854. His father Ambrose Smith was a clergyman and congregational pastor; his mother Cynthia Egerton was a descendant of Plymouth colony governor William Bradford. Smith attended Dartmouth College and served as the superintendent of schools in Norwich, Vermont 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's educational department. He also earned a law degree at Georgetown University Law Center.[1]

In 1885 Smith moved to Minnesota, settling in Montevideo, Minnesota and establishing a law practice. In 1886, he married Dora Rogers, a teacher originally from Maine. Together they had a daughter Charlotte (b. 1888).[1]

Smith's political career began in 1889 when he was elected attorney for Chippewa County, Minnesota. He served only one term but was later elected Lieutenant Governor under Republican John 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.[2][3]

Smith died while in office on March 5, 1918.[2] He is buried in Orchard Grove Cemetery in Kittery, Maine.

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

1. McGrath, Hugh J. (1901). History of the Great Northwest and Its Men of Progress: A Select List of Biographical Sketches and Portraits of the Leaders in Business, Professional and Official Life. Minneapolis Journal. pp. 387–388.
2. Twentieth Biennial Report For the Years 1917 and 1918. Saint Paul, Minn.: Minnesota Historical Society. 1919. p. 39.
3. Hedin, Douglas A. "Results Of Elections Of Attorneys General 1857 - 2010" (PDF). Minnesota Legal History Project.