- unitid
-
{"value"=>"2113785", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1797-1848", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1797/1848"}
- unittitle
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{"value"=>"II. William Smith III papers"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p> William Smith III (1769-1847), of New York and Quebec, was the son of William Smith Jr. (1728-1793) and Janet Livingston Smith (1730-1819). He was a Canadian provincial government official, historian and militia officer.</p> <p> William Smith left New York during the British evacuation in late 1783, and resided in London with his father until their departure for the Province of Quebec in 1786. The start of his career in government at Quebec (Lower Canada from 1791) benefitted from his father’s position and influence, and the patronage of Lord Dorchester. In Canada he was known as William Smith Jr. during that time.</p> <p> In 1803, Smith traveled to England to further his career and improve his finances, returning to Lower Canada in 1804. While in England he met and married Susanna Webber (called Susan; died 1850). She was the niece of his father’s friend, the wealthy merchant Sir Brook Watson. He also renewed his family’s acquaintance with Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent.</p> <p> Smith was a Master of Chancery, Clerk of the Legislative Council, and chairman of the Executive Council in the provincial government of Lower Canada. As a multiple office holder nearing retirement, he negotiated the relinquishment of positions required by British colonial reforms that culminated in the consolidation of Upper and Lower Canada in 1841. In addition to his work in government, Smith served as an officer in the Quebec militia for many years.</p> <p> Smith emulated his father’s work as an historian, writing the <span class=\"title\"> History of Canada from its first discovery to the year 1791</span> . It was printed in two volumes in 1815, but he delayed its publication until 1826 for political reasons. Smith also edited his father’s manuscript <span class=\"title\">Continuation</span> of his <span class=\"title\">History of the Province of New-York</span> (1757), published in 1826 as <span class=\"title\">Continuation of the History of New-York</span> by the New-York Historical Society, followed by their revised edition.</p> <p> During his father’s lifetime Smith gradually took on responsibility for the family’s landholdings in New York State and Vermont, and later managed his parents’ legal estate, aided by his brother-in-law Jonathan Sewell (1769-1839), Chief Justice of Lower Canada.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p> The papers of William Smith III, 1797-1848, contain personal and professional correspondence, a journal of a trip to England in 1803-1804, certificates of appointment, a checkbook, receipts, notes pertaining to Canadian history and government, and an incomplete edited proof copy of his <span class=\"title\">History of Canada</span> . Smith’s correspondence contains personal letters from Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, and letters from British officials concerning his provincial offices and efforts to obtain a pension. Also present are a few letters to his wife Susan written by others, and papers relating to the estate of William Osgoode. Smith’s correspondence and accounts concerning the family’s property are found in Series III, Smith family land and estate papers.</p>"}
- date_start
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1797
- keydate
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1797
- date_end
-
1848
- date_inclusive_start
-
1797
- date_inclusive_end
-
1848