Matthew Smith (Rhode Island politician) explained

Matthew J. Smith
Office1:218th Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Term Start1:1980
Term End1:1988
Predecessor1:Edward P. Manning
Successor1:Joseph DeAngelis
Office2:Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Term Start2:1973
Term End2:1988
Birth Name:Matthew John Smith
Birth Date:17 July 1941
Birth Place:Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Spouse:Claire Crepeau
Party:Democratic
Children:4
Alma Mater:Providence College

Matthew John Smith (born July 17, 1941) is an American politician and lawyer in the state of Rhode Island.

Smith was born in Providence in 1941, the son of Irish immigrants.[1] He earned a bachelor's (1962) and master's (1966) degrees at Providence College.[2] He worked as a professor and archivist at Providence College, and also co-authored a book on the history of Catholicism in Rhode Island.

A Democrat, Smith was first elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in a special election held in June 1973. He served as Speaker of the House from 1980 to 1988, resigning his seat in 1988 upon being appointed as Clerk of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and Rhode Island court administrator. In addition, Smith was a member of the boards of the St. Joseph Hospital Corporation and Blue Shield of Rhode Island. He is married to Claire Crepeau and has four children.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former House Speaker ‘staunch defender’ of life. Kilgus. Laura. April 28, 2016. Rhode Island Catholic. December 22, 2023.
  2. Book: American Legislative Leaders in the Northeast, 1911-1994. Nancy Weatherly. Sharp. James Roger. Sharp. Bloomsbury Academic. August 30, 2000. 9780313032080. Google Books.