James Francis Smith

Born on January 28, 1859, in San Francisco, California,[1] Smith received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1877 from Santa Clara University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in 1878 from the same institution, then attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.[1] He entered private practice in California from 1881 to 1898.[1]

In 1898, Smith joined the United States Army and served in the Philippine–American War, where he served as the Collector of Customs for the Philippine Archipelago in Manila.[1] Following the end of the war, Smith held a number of offices on the Philippine Commission, including Secretary of Public Instruction and Vice-Governor. From 1901 to 1903 he was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.[1] He was Governor-General of the Philippines from 1906 to 1909.[1]

Smith's tenure as Governor-General saw the Philippines achieving greater territorial autonomy as and allowing for greater Filipino representation in the government. On March 28, 1907, Smith issued a statement claiming that the people of the Philippines had largely been "law-abiding, peaceful, and loyal to the United States" according to a 1905 census.[2] He was present at the inauguration of the first Philippine Assembly on October 17, 1907, after the Philippines had held its first democratic elections.

At the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibition in Seattle, 1909

In 1908, after the construction of a mansion in Baguio that would serve as the colonial government seat during summertime, Smith's family became the first residents of the building, with his wife wanting to escape the heat of Manila.[3]

Smith was nominated by President William Howard Taft on March 9, 1910, to the United States Court of Customs Appeals (later the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals), to a new Associate Judge seat authorized by 36 Stat. 11.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 30, 1910, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on June 29, 1928, due to his death in Washington, D.C.[1]

Smith was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, Alcatraz Parlor No. 145.[4]

• A brief history of the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals by Giles S. Rich. Washington, D.C. : Published by authorization of Committee on the Bicentennial of Independence and the Constitution of the Judicial Conference of the United States : U.S. G.P.O., 1980.

• "Smith, James Francis - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.