Wilford Horace Smith facts for kids
Wilford Horace Smith (born April 1863 – died June 9, 1926) was an American lawyer. He was known for his work with constitutional law, which deals with the basic rules of a country. He made history as the first African-American lawyer to win a case before the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the country.
Life Story
Wilford Horace Smith was born in April 1863 in Mississippi. His father was from Virginia, and his mother was from Kentucky.
He studied law at Boston University School of Law and finished his studies in 1883. In 1895, he got married. Around the same time, he moved to Galveston, Texas, to start his law practice. By 1910, he had moved to Manhattan, New York City. Wilford Horace Smith passed away in Manhattan, New York City, on June 9, 1926.
Important Writings
Wilford Horace Smith wrote several important articles and legal papers. These works often focused on civil rights and the law, especially for African Americans.
- Carter v. Texas (1900)
- The Negro and the Law (1903)
- Is the Negro Disfranchised?, The Outlook, April 29, 1905, pp. 1047-1048
- The Negro's Right to Jury Representation (around 1909)
