William Smith, fourth chief justice of the Province of Quebec (born 18 June 1728 in New York City; died 6 December 1793 in Québec City). Smith, a Yale graduate (1745), succeeded his father as a judge in New York (1767) and was subsequently chief justice there (1780). He remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution. He was a friend of Governor Guy Carleton and was named chief justice of Québec (1786). He is now remembered for his interpretation of the Quebec Act (1774) and his view that English or French law applied according to whether the litigants were of French or English expression. That position is now seen as having been motivated by political considerations. Smith is also known as an historian of New York state.
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- MLA 8TH EDITION
- Brierley, John E.c.. "William Smith". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 23 December 2015, Historica Canada. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/william-smith. Accessed 02 November 2024.
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- APA 6TH EDITION
- Brierley, J. (2015). William Smith. In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/william-smith
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- CHICAGO 17TH EDITION
- Brierley, John E.c.. "William Smith." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published January 29, 2008; Last Edited December 23, 2015.
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- TURABIAN 8TH EDITION
- The Canadian Encyclopedia, s.v. "William Smith," by John E.c. Brierley, Accessed November 02, 2024, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/william-smith
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William Smith
Article by John E.c. Brierley
Published Online January 29, 2008
Last Edited December 23, 2015
William Smith, fourth chief justice of the Province of Quebec (born 18 June 1728 in New York City; died 6 December 1793 in Québec City).