# Charles K. Smith *Nineteenth-century Ohio lawyer and first Secretary of State of Minnesota Territory* **Charles Kilgore Smith** (February 15, 1799 – September 28, 1866) was an Ohio lawyer and politician. He was the first secretary of state of [[Minnesota Territory]], and Wikipedia counts him as the first [[Minnesota Secretary of State]].[^1] President Zachary Taylor named him to the territorial post in March 1849, and he held it until October 1851. While in office he was the first secretary of the [[Minnesota Historical Society]], which Wikipedia credits him with founding in October 1849. In 1851 he also sat for one term on the board of regents of the [[University of Minnesota]].[^1] He later returned to Ohio and practiced law in Hamilton until his death in 1866.[^1] ## Early life and career Smith was born on February 15, 1799, at Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, James Smith, was [[sheriff]] of Hamilton County, Ohio, and collected government revenue there. The family settled in Hamilton County in 1805.[^2] Smith studied under the Reverend James Hughes at Oxford, Ohio, in the school that later became Miami University.[^2] In Ohio he worked in banking and practiced law. He was also assistant to the clerk of the Supreme and Common Pleas Court of Butler County, Ohio. Hamilton County voters elected him Associated Judge in 1848.[^2] ## Minnesota Territory On March 19, 1849, Zachary Taylor, as President of the United States, named Smith the territory's first secretary of state. His tenure ran from June 1, 1849, to October 23, 1851, and [[Alexander Wilkin]] succeeded him.[^3] During that tenure, on October 20, 1849, he founded the Minnesota Historical Society, according to Wikipedia, and he became the society's first secretary.[^3] He was a member of the University of Minnesota's [[Board of Regents]] for one term, in 1851.[^3] ## Later life After his Minnesota service, Smith went back to Hamilton, Ohio, and practiced law there for the rest of his life. He died on September 28, 1866.[^4] ## Personal life Smith was a Freemason. Wikipedia describes him as a foundational figure of Masonic Freemasonry in Minnesota. He was also among the charter members of the first Odd Fellows lodge in Minnesota.[^5] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Charles Kilgore Smith, Ohio lawyer and first secretary of state of Minnesota Territory.[^1] ### What - Secretary of state of Minnesota Territory, June 1, 1849 – October 23, 1851.[^3] - First secretary of the Minnesota Historical Society; one term on the University of Minnesota board of regents in 1851.[^3] ### When - Born February 15, 1799; died September 28, 1866.[^2][^4] - Appointed March 19, 1849; succeeded by Alexander Wilkin after October 23, 1851.[^3] - Minnesota Historical Society founded October 20, 1849.[^3] ### Where - Born at Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, Ohio; later practiced law in Hamilton, Ohio, until his death.[^2][^4] ### How - Appointed by President Zachary Taylor.[^3] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles K. Smith* (revision 1375447717, retrieved 2026-10-25), lead section, CC BY-SA 4.0 — birth and death dates; first Minnesota Secretary of State. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_K._Smith [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles K. Smith* (revision 1375447717, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Early life and career", CC BY-SA 4.0 — birth, family, education, Ohio offices, 1848 judgeship. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_K._Smith [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles K. Smith* (revision 1375447717, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Minnesota Territory", CC BY-SA 4.0 — 1849 appointment, term dates, successor, Historical Society, regents term. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_K._Smith [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles K. Smith* (revision 1375447717, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Later life", CC BY-SA 4.0 — return to Hamilton, Ohio; death on September 28, 1866. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_K._Smith [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles K. Smith* (revision 1375447717, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Personal life", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Freemasonry and Odd Fellows membership. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_K._Smith