James W. Smith
Irish American labor activist
About James W. Smith
Lived 1838 – 1903 (aged 64–65).
James W. Smith (July 26, 1838 – November 6, 1903) was an Irish-born American labor unionist.
Born in County Carlow in Ireland, Smith's father died when James was young. He and his mother emigrated to the United States in 1850, settling in Boston, where he became a tailor. After marrying, he moved to Cumberland, Maryland. During the U.S. Civil War, he served for a year as a musician with the 2nd Maryland Infantry Regiment, before returning to tailoring.
In 1864, Smith moved to Springfield, Illinois, where he later joined the Journeymen Tailors' National Union of the United States.
In 1886, FOTLU was reorganized as the American Federation of Labor, and Smith was elected as one of its vice-presidents. He additionally served as president of the Illinois State Federation of Labor in 1885/86 and again in 1888/89.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped James W. Smith's
Frequently asked questions
Who was James W. Smith?
Irish American labor activist
When was James W. Smith born?
James W. Smith was born in 1838.
When did James W. Smith die?
James W. Smith died in 1903.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: James W. Smith (trade unionist)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James W. Smith. https://biography.guide/james-w-smith-1838/
MLA: "James W. Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-w-smith-1838/.
Chicago: "James W. Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-w-smith-1838/.
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