Frederick Smith

Friederich Schmidt was baptized 13 Apr 1773 in Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, He was born in Philadelphia County on 1 Mar 1773 to Johann Friedrich and Anna Barbara Schmidt.

The father was a Pfarrer (Pastor) of the Lutheran Church. Both He and his son's lives are chronicled in:
Read Chapter 1 of "The Schmidt Family of Philadelphia" by J. Bennett Nolan, a Schmidt descendant (1932) including a close association with the Mühlenbergs.

Judge Frederick Smith was one of the most distinguished citizens of his time in Berks county. He was born in 1773, received unusual educational advantages for the time, and after careful preparation for the profession of law was admitted to practice Aug. 7, 1795. He had been thorough in his studies and was equally conscientious in the preparation of his cases, and he soon won a prominent position among the lawyers of his day. Like many others of his profession he became interested and active in politics. From 1802 to 1803 he was a member of the Legislature; in 1818 he was appointed deputy attorney general for Berks county, a position he held for three years; from 1823 to 1828 he was attorney general of the State under Governor Shulze ††, by whom he was appointed associate justice of the Supreme court of the State in 1828, and this honorable position he filled with great credit until his death. Judge Smith was clear and logical in his reasonings, and just and impartial in his decisions. He died at his home in Reading, after but a brief illness, Oct. 5, 1830, aged fifty-seven years, seven months, four days, and his remains were interred in the Roman Catholic cemetery, but later removed to the Charles Evans cemetery. The Bar Associations in Reading and in Philadelphia passed resolutions in testimony of his high character and distinguished ability. He married Catharine Leaf.

†† This stems from an early association of the Muhlenberg, Schultz, and Schmidt families. Muhlenberg sent his three young sons to be taught by Rev. Schmidt at Halle; and Schultz, Schmidt and Muhlenberg were among the founding pillars of the Lutheran faith in Colonial Pennsylvania.

• Though once a Federalist, he became a staunch advocate of the successful candidacy of the Jefferson/Burr ticket.
• A close friend of the ten young (future Sen. & President) James Buchannan
• an attorney general in PA
• Slave ownersship: see arounf page 142 of the Family history

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"Heedful of the admonition of his father, ever solicitous for the
preservation of the German tongue, he moved and secured the printing of the Legislative Journal in both English and German. :" from the Smith family bio page 133