Nathaniel W. Smith

{{Short description|American politician from Rhode Island (1873–1957)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Nathaniel W. Smith

| image =

| office = 47th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island

| term_start = 6 January 1925

| term_end = 3 January 1927

| predecessor = Felix A. Toupin

| successor = Norman S. Case

| governor = Aram J. Pothier

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1873|11|18}}

| birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|1957|9|2|1873|11|18}}}}

| death_place = Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.

| party = Republican

| children = 3

| education = Yale University & New York Law School

}}

Nathaniel Waite Smith (18 November 1873 – 2 September 1957) was an American politician who served as the 47th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island as a member of the Republican party from 1925 to 1927.{{cite web |url=https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/smith6.html#349.51.09 |title=Smith, Nathaniel W. |publisher=politicalgraveyard.com |date= |access-date=6 May 2023}}

Early life

Nathaniel W. Smith was born in Providence, Rhode Island on 18 November 1873 to Nathaniel Waite Smith Sr. and Emily Frances Cole. After graduating from Yale University in 1896 and New York Law School in 1898, he became a lawyer. He married Ellen Howard Weeden (1882-1961) on 23 September 1905 and went on to have 3 children.

Political career

Nathaniel W. Smith was first elected to office as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island alongside former Governor Aram J. Pothier on 4 November 1924, winning with 58.56% of the vote. He took office on 6 January 1925, but did not stand for re-election during the 1926 Rhode Island gubernatorial election and was therefor succeeded by fellow republican Norman S. Case upon Governor Pothier's re-election.{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=266756 |title=RI Governor |publisher=ourcampaigns.com |date=21 February 2023 |access-date=26 January 2024}}

Later life and death

Upon reaching the end of his term on 3 January 1927, Nathaniel W. Smith retired from politics. Smith died in Providence, Rhode Island, on 2 September 1957. He lies buried at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island.