In 1849 his family removed to Albany, New York, where he attended the public schools and the Albany Academy. He graduated at Union College in 1861, was a recruiting officer on the staff of General John F Rathbone (1819-1901) in 1861-1862, taught in the Albany Academy in 1862-1865, and was editor of the Albany Express in 1865-1870; joined the staff of the Albany Journal in 1870, and was editor-in-chief of this paper from 1876 to 1880. In 1879-1880 he was a regent of the University of the State of New York. From 1880 until his death he was editor and part proprietor of the Philadelphia Press.
He was active as a Russia, and during that, period had charge of distributing among the Russian famine sufferers more than $100,000 in money, and five shiploads of food. He was postmaster-general in the cabinet of Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt from April 1898 until January 1902, and did much to develop the rural free delivery system. He died in Philadelphia on the 19th of January 1908.
Smith, 72, died on Sunday, Oct. 26, 1997 of heart failure at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta.
Smith, owner and chairman of the board of the Falcons, died of heart failure at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, where he had been admitted Friday night, the team announced.
Smith was the prime force in getting the stadium built, hinting that he would take his team to another city if forced to continue playing at his outdated home.