Sir Albert James Smith | |
|---|---|
 Hon. Sir Albert James Smith, April 1868 | |
| Attorney General of Canada (Acting) | |
| In office June 1, 1874 – July 7, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | Antoine-Aimé Dorion |
| Succeeded by | Télesphore Fournier |
| Premier of the Colony of New Brunswick | |
| In office September 21, 1865 – April 14, 1866 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Leonard Tilley |
| Succeeded by | Peter Mitchell |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Westmorland | |
| In office 1867–1882 | |
| Succeeded by | Josiah Wood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 12, 1822 Shediac, New Brunswick |
| Died | June 30, 1883 (aged 61) Dorchester, New Brunswick |
| Resting place | Dorchester Rural Cemetery |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Sarah Marie Young (m. 1868) |
| Children | one son (d. 30 June 1883) |
Sir Albert James Smith KCMG PC QC (March 12, 1822 – June 30, 1883) was a New Brunswick politician and opponent of Canadian confederation. Smith's grandfather was a United Empire Loyalist who left Massachusetts to settle in New Brunswick after the American Revolution.
Smith entered politics in 1852 entering the House of Assembly as an opponent of the Tory compact that ran the colony and became a leading reform and advocate of responsible government which was granted to the colony in 1854. Smith became a member of the reform government that took power that year and went on to become Attorney-General in 1861 under Premier Samuel Leonard Tilley. Smith split with Tilley over railway policy and Canadian confederation with Smith becoming leader of the Anti-Confederates winning the 1865 election but was forced from office the next year by the lieutenant-governor.
He was created a Queen's Counsel in 1862.
Smith reconciled with Confederation after it became a fact and became minister of fisheries in the Liberal government of Alexander Mackenzie in 1873. He died in 1883, and was interred in Dorchester Rural Cemetery.