SMITH, Theophilus Washington, jurist, born in New York city, 28 September, 1784; died in Chicago, Illinois, 6 May, 1846. After serving in the United States navy, he was admitted to the bar in his native city, 11 December, 1805, having been a law-student in the office of Aaron Burr, and a fellow-student with Washington Irving. On 2 April, 1806, he was commissioned notary public by Governor Morgan Lewis. In 1816 he visited the west in the interest of his father-in-law, who had a large estate in Ohio, and proceeding as far as Edwardsville, Illinois, settled there. In 1823 he was elected state senator, introduced and supported the original bill for the construction of the Illinois and Michigan canal, and was appointed one of the commissioners. In 1825 he was elected judge of the supreme court of the state. In 1836 he removed to Chicago, and in April, 1841, he was assigned the judgeship in the 7th circuit of the state in addition to his duties as judge of the supreme court. Failing health compelled him to resign his office, 26 December, 1842.