THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 189 



scientific tastes. Dr. Smith married February 26, 1829, 

 Mary, daughter of Abraham Lewis, of Delaware County. 

 His widow and five children survive his death, which 

 occurred on the 12th of February, 1882. 



From 1832 to 1836 Dr. Smith was a state senator from 

 the district composed of Chester and Delaware Counties, 

 and during that time was largely instrumental in estab- 

 lishing a law for free education. 



On December 8, 1836, he was appointed by Governor 

 Ritner Associate-Judge of the courts of Delaware County, 

 an appointment held by him for six years, and renewed by 

 popular vote for five succeeding years. As Suj^erintendent 

 of the common schools, and as President of the School 

 Board of Upper Darby district, he continued to show deep 

 interest in popular education. In September, 1833, with 

 four of his friends, he founded the Delaware County Insti- 

 tute of Science, of which he was the President from the 

 time of its organization until his death, a period of forty- 

 nine years. This association has objects in view similar if 

 not identical to those of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia. 



A generous contributor to the periodical papers of his 

 neighborhood, in the year 1862 he published the " History of 

 Delaware County," a work which at once placed its author 

 in the very front rank of careful, painstaking, accurate 

 historians. 



Dr. Smith gives besides an instructive sketch of the 

 geology of the county, a copious catalogue of the plants of 

 the same. This list, carefully prepared, is the monument 

 of Dr. Smith's energy and interest in botanical science. 



