Smith served briefly as
Vice-President of Pennsylvania (a position analogous to the modern office of
lieutenant governor), following the resignation of
George Bryan on October 11, 1779. Smith was elected and took office that same day and served until his own resignation on October 23, 1779. At twelve days, Smith's was the shortest tenure of the ten men who served as vice-president under the Commonwealth's 1776 Constitution—in fact, his was the shortest term of
any governor or lieutenant governor in the history of the Commonwealth. (
John Bell served as governor for fourteen days in January 1947, and
David Redick held the vice-presidency for twenty-two days in the fall of 1788.) As was the case with his predecessor, no reason is given for his resignation in the minutes of the Council. By virtue of his office, Smith served as an
ex officio member of the
Board of Trustees of the
University of Pennsylvania for a similarly brief period, October–November 1779. ==References==