James Smith was born in Ireland around 1719. His family fled the landlords of the Old World for the freedom of Pennsylvania around 1727, settling as farmers on the Susquehanna in Chester County.

Receiving a classical education from a local minister, Smith continued his studies in classics, adding land surveying, at the Philadelphia Academy, now known as the University of Pennsylvania.

Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1745, Smith became a prominent man of the law and business, at one point founding an iron manufacturing company and soon emerging as a leader in Pennsylvania politics.

In 1774, Smith helped form and organize the state’s support for the cause of independence as he raised a volunteer company of militia. 

Smith was appointed to the provincial convention in Philadelphia in 1775 where he declared, “If the British administration should determine by force to effect a submission to the late arbitrary acts of the British parliament, in such a situation, we hold it our indispensable duty to resist such force, and at every hazard to defend the rights and liberties of America.”  He was then elected to the Second Continental Congress. He represented Pennsylvania in the Congress until 1778, going on to serve a term in the State Assembly, as a judge of the state High Court of Appeals, and as Brigadier General of the Pennsylvania militia in 1781.

He died on July 11, 1806, in York, Pennsylvania at the age of 87. A fire destroyed his office and papers shortly before his death, contributing to his relative obscurity.