Governor Charles A. Smith

CHARLES A. SMITH was born in Hertford County, North Carolina and graduated from Wake Forest University in 1882. A businessman and banker, he worked for several mercantile stores in South Carolina and became President of the Citizens Bank of Timmonsville, South Carolina; the Bank of Lynchburg, South Carolina; and the Peoples’ Bank of Lamar, South Carolina. He was also a trustee of Furman University in Greenville and Greenville Women’s College and as President of the South Carolina Baptist Association. Smith served in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1910 and became the state’s Lieutenant Governor the following year. As Lieutenant Governor, he assumed the governorship upon the resignation of Coleman L. Blease five days before his term was due to expire. After serving those five remaining days of Blease’s term, Smith left office. He died in Baltimore, Maryland the following year.