[1] During the American Revolutionary War, Smith served an aide-de-camp to General George Washington and rose to the rank of colonel in the Continental Army.

[4] In 1810, aligned with the Democratic-Republican Party (he had earlier had Federalist leanings), Smith was elected governor by the North Carolina General Assembly.

He served only a single one-year term, and emphasized reform of the state's criminal code and penitentiary system.

Although Smith did seek re-election to the governor's seat in 1811, he polled behind William Hawkins on the first ballot and withdrew himself from consideration.

Smith died in Smithville, North Carolina in 1826 and is buried at the St. Philip's Church near Wilmington.