In 1851 he became a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council and soon after became Solicitor-General, a role he served until 1854. He was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 1856 and served as Attorney-General in William Champ's first ministry from 1 November 1856 until 26 February 1857. When William Weston's ministry (1857) collapsed, he proceeded to form his own with himself as Premier and Attorney-General. He held office for three years until 1860, becoming the first Premier of Tasmania to hold office for more than one year. In 1860 he was appointed to the Supreme Court bench, becoming Chief Justice in 1870. During his time as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania he displayed legal aptitude, producing well-reasoned judgments. Smith was knighted in 1862. On ending his distinguished legal and political career, he retired to England where he died on 17 January 1909 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Family Smith married Sarah Giles on 26 August 1851. She was born about 1832 in Foxford, County Mayo, Ireland and died on 29 July 1909. She was the only child of the Reverend George Giles of Launceston. They had two sons and two daughters; only one of the sons has been identified: o Francis George Villeneuve Smith (1854–1941), solicitor, left Tasmania for Sydney in 1883, on 2 July 1885 married Caroline (Lena) Anne Shadforth Stephen, only child of Mr M. H. Stephen, barrister-at-law. o Kate Villeneuve Smith (c 1856 Tasmania - ?) o Margaret Villeneuve Smith (c 1861 Tasmania - ?) References Further reading 1819 births 1909 deaths Premiers of Tasmania Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly Members of the Tasmanian Legislative Council Chief Justices of Tasmania Australian Knights Bachelor Members of the Middle Temple People from Lindfield, West Sussex English emigrants to colonial Australia Colony of Tasmania judges Judges of the Supreme Court of Tasmania 19th-century Australian judges 19th-century Australian politicians Solicitors-General of Tasmania Attorneys-General of Tasmania People from Port-au-Prince Australian people of Haitian descent