Smith Mead Weed | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Weed in 1899's Notable New Yorkers of 1896-1899 | |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from Clinton County | |
| In office January 1, 1873 – December 31, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | Edmund Kingsland 2nd |
| Succeeded by | Shepard P. Bowen |
| In office January 1, 1871 – December 31, 1871 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel G. Dodge |
| Succeeded by | Edmund Kingsland 2nd |
| In office January 1, 1865 – December 31, 1867 | |
| Preceded by | George Hallock |
| Succeeded by | William F. Cook |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 26, 1833 Bellmont, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 7, 1920 (aged 86) Valcour Island, Plattsburgh, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Riverside Cemetery, Plattsburgh, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Catherine L. Standish (m. 1859-1885, her death) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Harvard Law School |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
Smith Mead Weed (July 26, 1833 – June 7, 1920) was a Democratic lawyer and businessman from Plattsburgh, New York, who served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1865 to 1867, in 1871, and again in 1873 and 1874.
A native of Bellmont, New York, Weed was an 1857 graduate of Harvard Law School. After attaining admission to the bar, he settled in the village of Plattsburgh, where he practiced law and became involved in businesses including lumber, mines, and railroads. He served in the New York State Assembly in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874. In 1871, Weed's opposition to the Tammany Hall Democratic organization caused a pro-Tammany Assembly member to assault him; the member resigned rather than face expulsion.
Weed attended several Democratic National Conventions as a delegate and was a supporter of Samuel J. Tilden for president in 1876 and 1880. During the controversy that followed the disputed 1876 election, Weed was accused of attempting to bribe election officials in contested states in order to procure their support for Tilden.
Weed was a candidate for U.S. Senate three times; when Republicans held state legislative majorities in 1887 and 1905, Weed was nominated by Democrats as an honor, and lost to the Republican nominees. When Democrats held a legislative majority in 1891, Weed expected to be the nominee and win election to the Senate, but deferred to incumbent Governor David B. Hill, who went on to win the seat.
Weed died on Valcour Island on June 7, 1920, and was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Plattsburgh.