James M. Smith Jr. (c. 1810 – June 5, 1898) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.
[1] In November 1854, he was elected on the Democratic ticket (a fusion of Hards and Softs) as Recorder of New York City, defeating the incumbent Francis R.
[6][7] In 1872, Smith was nominated for New York County District Attorney on the "National Democratic" ticket.
Their son Frank Sherman Smith was appointed police justice at age 24, becoming the youngest judge in New York City at the time.
Smith then retired from the bar, sold his home and moved into a boarding house.