George Luke Smith

George Luke Smith (December 11, 1837 – July 9, 1884) was a U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 4th congressional district, which encompasses the state's third largest city, Shreveport, Louisiana.

Born in New Boston in Hillsborough County in southern New Hampshire, Smith completed preparatory studies and attended Union College, Schenectady, New York.

During the American Civil War, he served in the Union Army. At the close of the war, he relocated to Shreveport and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1870 to 1872. He served as proprietor of the Shreveport Southwestern Telegram. He served as president of the Shreveport Savings Bank & Trust Company.

Smith was elected as a Republican to the Forty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative-elect Samuel Peters and served from November 24, 1873, until March 3, 1875. Considered a Carpetbagger, Smith was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874 to the Forty-fourth Congress and was succeeded for one term by the Democrat William M. Levy.

Thereafter, Smith was appointed collector of customs at the port of New Orleans by U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, a position that he held from May 4, 1878, to February 20, 1879. He moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to engage in the real estate business until his death there on July 9, 1884.

He is interred at the West Street Cemetery in Milford, New Hampshire.

Smith was the last Republican to hold the 4th district House seat in Louisiana until 1988, when Jim McCrery won a special election for the position.

External links

• George Luke Smith at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Alexander Boarman	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 4th congressional district 1873 – 1875	Succeeded by William M. Levy