James Francis Smith

James Francis Smith (January 28, 1859 – June 29, 1928) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Governor-General of the Philippines and an associate judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals.

Education and career

Born on January 28, 1859, in San Francisco, California, 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. He then served in the Philippine–American War, where he served as the Collector of Customs for the Philippine Archipelago in Manila. After the Philippines had held its first democratic elections, he was present at the inauguration of the first Philippine Assembly on October 17, 1907.

Smith's wife wanted to escape the summertime heat of Manila. So in 1908, he had a mansion in Baguio built as a second official residence. Smith's family became the first residents of the building.

Federal judicial service

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.