Thomas Slater Smith
Thomas S. Smith | |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | John Hughes Cochran |
| Succeeded by | L. Travis Dashiell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Slater Smith July 6, 1856 Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | March 15, 1901 (aged 44) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
Thomas Slater Smith (1856–1901) was an American jurist from Texas. He was a member of the Texas Legislature where he served as the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. He was later elected as the Texas Attorney General.
Early life and education
[edit]Slater was born on July 6, 1856 in Mississippi.[1] He attended Emory & Henry College, graduating in 1877.[1] He obtained his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1878.[2]
Career
[edit]Slater began practicing law in Mississippi and served two terms as mayor of Tupelo, Mississippi.[3] He moved to Hillsboro, Texas in 1884 and became the attorney for Hill County, Texas,[1] and was also named to the Democratic committee for the state of Texas for the 21st Senatorial District beginning in 1888.[2] In 1893, Slater was elected to the Texas Legislature,[2] serving as the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives before resigning office to serve as elector for the 1896 United States presidential election.[4][better source needed]
Slater was elected Texas Attorney General and took office in 1898.[1]While Attorney General, he won two cases before the United States Supreme Court.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Smith died while in office on March 15, 1901.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Lane, Francie (27 January 2015). The Martin Family History Volume II Col. James Martin (1742-1834) and Martha Martin Rogers (1744-1825). LuluPress, Incorporated. ISBN 9781312869868. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ a b c Hart, Brian (1 June 1995). "Thomas Slater Smith: Life and Legacy of a Texas Attorney General". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Presiding Officers of The Texas Legislature, 1846-2016". The Portal to Texas History. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Thomas Slater Smith...Hillsboro's Political Giant at the Dawn of the 20th Century". Hillsboro Heritage League. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Tom Smith Rifles Militia in Early 1900s". The Evening Mirror. 7 September 1958. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
