House 1895-98 (District 34); Senate 1899-1910 (District 43)
Party when first elected: Republican
Counties Served: Hennepin
Spouse: Married Children: Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
When Governor John A. Johnson died on September 21, 1909, Lt. Governor A.O. Eberhart became governor and Senator Edward Smith became lieutenant governor, according to the Minnesota Historical Society. Sources vary as to when he was sworn in. A Minneapolis Tribune article from 1910 states that he was "quietly" sworn in that spring; he hadn't taken the oath yet, thinking it unnecessary. The paper goes on: "The lieutenant governor now either holds the double position of lieutenant governor and state senator - or if the one merges into the other, his district is without a legal representative." However, the Legislature did not meet between April 22, 1909 and January 3, 1911.He died in Minneapolis, Minnesota.