Former Know-Nothing Converts to Catholicism

Last updated on: June 2, 2014 at 4:59 am by Pat McNamara

Former Know-Nothing Converts to Catholicism 2014-06-02T04:59:20-06:00 Pat McNamara

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Order of the Star Spangled Banner was founded in New York in 1849 in opposition to the rise of a predominantly Catholic immigration to the United States. Members were pledged to secrecy about the order. When asked about it, they answered “I know nothing”; hence the nickname the “Know-Nothings.” During the 1850’s, membership rose rapidly among native-born white Protestants who termed themselves “native Americans.” Here is an account of an Alabama Know-Nothing who subsequently repudiated his views and converted to Catholicism (for what exact reason has not been listed here):

SMITH, William Russell, fourth president, the University of Alabama, 1870-71, was born at Russellville, Logan co., Ky., Mar. 27, 1815, son of Ezekiel and Elizabeth Hampton Smith, and a descendant of Col. Arthur Smith, who emigrated from England to Isle of Wight county, Va., in 1622, and in 1653, was the founder of Smithfield.

Through his mother, he was descended from the Hamptons, Russells and Lowrys. After the death of his father, his mother removed to Alabama, settled in Tuscaloosa. The son, who was a remarkably talented lad, was educated at the University of Alabama, which had just been established, and remained there from 1831 until 1834, when he took up the study of law. In 1835, he was admitted to the bar and immediately began to practice at Greensboro. In 1836, during the Creek War, he was captain of Alabama troops, and his company being disbanded at Mobile, was engaged in journalism.

In 1838, he resumed the practice of law in Alabama. During 1841-43, he was a member of the legislature. In 1845, he became brigadier general of the state militia and in 1850-51, was judge of the seventh judicial circuit court of Alabama. In the latter year, he was elected as a representative to congress. He served until 1857, and became distinguished for his brilliant speeches, one of the most notable being that in which he successfully opposed the attempts of Kossuth to involve this country in a foreign war. In a speech made in 1856, he originated the saying afterward so widely quoted: “The union of the states is a political indestructibility.”

He became a leader in the American party, but subsequently deprecated the extreme position taken by its members, and retracted his violent anti-Catholic speeches.

In 1861, as a delegate to the Alabama convention, he strongly opposed disunion, but although he refused to sign the secession ordinance, he remained with his state. He was commissioned colonel of the 26th Alabama regiment, which position he was induced by his friends to resign in order to serve in the Confederate congress. He was a member of that body from 1861 until 1865, when he retired to private life. In July 1870, he was elected president of the University of Alabama, which was passing through a period of adversity, and upon the resignation of the professor of mathematics, he assumed the duties of that post also.

The affairs of the institution had been in a deplorable condition for several years and finding the outlook discouraging, Judge Smith remained for some there time and terminated his connection with the university in July 1871. He removed to Washington, D.C., in 1879 and there spent the remainder of his life. He was not only an eloquent powerful speaker, but was a writer of ability. Much of his time was devoted to the study of classical literature, and he made several excellent translations from the Greek.

The following are his principal published works: College Musings (1833); The Bridal Eve (1835); The Alabama Justice, which passed through several editions (1859); The Uses of Solitude (1860); History and Debates of the Convention of Alabama (1861); Diomede (1869); Condensed Reports of Alabama (1870); Key to Homer’s Iliad (1871; new ed., 1873); Polyxena (1872); The Iliad (1872), and *Reminiscences of a Long Life (*1889). On account of his small stature, Judge Smith was affectionately known among his friends and constituents as “Little Billy.” He was married first in 1843 to Jane, daughter of John Binion of Tuscaloosa; second, in 1847, to Mary Jane, daughter of James Murray of Fayette, Ala.; third, June 14, 1854, to Wilhelmine Maria, daughter of William Eashy of Washington, D.C. Judge Smith died in Washington, D.C., Feb. 20, 1896.

Of his thirteen children, nine survive: Sophie Smith Walker; Mary Agnes, whose nom de plume is Agnes Hampton, the wife of Milton E. Smith, who was editor of the Church News, Washington, D.C.; William Easby, an expert electrician in the life-saving service; Elizabeth Hampton; Ethel Q., wife of John R. Hawkins of Tennessee; Paula Louise, wife of Maj. LE Lucas of the marine corps; James Stanislaus, lawyer and author; Ann Agatha and Rose Mary, wife of Leonard Wilson of England.

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume XII (1904): 294-295.

Alabama Catholics

Anti-Catholicism

Catholics in the South

Converts

Know-Nothings

laity

Previous Post

June 1, 2014

Catholic Sermons: "Holy Mass a Treasure" (1912)

Next Post

June 2, 2014 First Catholic Priest Ordained in the United States, 1793

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category African-American Catholics Alabama Catholics American Catholic History American Catholic women American History Anniversaries Anti-Catholicism Arkansas Catholics Benedictines Bishops Blessed John Henry Newman Book Reviews Books Boston College Brooklyn churches Brothers California Catholics Capuchins Cardinals Carlo Carretto Carmelites Catholic authors Catholic Cemeteries Catholic Historians Catholic History in Less Than 5 Minutes Catholic musicians Catholic Poetry Catholic Press Catholic School Textbook Catholic University of America Catholic Worker Catholics and Music Catholics and Race Catholics in Politics Catholics in the American Revolution Catholics in the Military Catholics in the Movies Catholics in the South Catholics in the West Catholics on Stage Catjolic Women Catolic Poetry Charles de Foucauld Children's Masses Christian Brothers Christmas Church Reform Civil Rights Movement Civil War Colleges and universities Converts D.C. Catholics Deaf Catholics Dominicans. Dorothy Day English Catholics Florida Catholics Fordham University Franciscans French Catholics Georgetown University German Americans Good Shepherd Sisters Hispanic Catholics Historians and Archivists Holy Cross Fathers Holy Name Society Idaho Catholics Illinois Catholics Indian Wars Indiana Catholics Irish Americans Irish Catholicism Italian Americans Italian Catholics Jesuits Josephite Sisters Kentucky Catholics Know-Nothings Laetare Medal Recipients laity Liturgical Movement Maine Catholics Manhattan College Maryland Catholicism Michigan Catholics Middle Ages Minnesota Catholics Missionaries Mississippi Catholics Missouri Catholics Monasteries Montana Catholics Native Americans New England Catholicism New Jersey Catholics New York Catholics North American College Ohio Catholics Oratorians Oregon Catholics Parish Mission Parishes Passionists Pat McNamara's Books Paulists Pennsylvania Catholics Popes Presidents Priests Quotations Religious Orders Rhode Island Catholics Saints Salesians Seminarians Seminaries Sermons Servants of God Siisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy South Carolina Catholics Spanish-American War Sports St. Francis of Assiai St. John Henry Newman Suplicians Tennessee Catholics Texas Catholics The year in review Thomas Merton Throwback Thursday Photograph Trappists Uncategorized University of Notre Dame Video Presentations Vincentians Virginia Catholics Visitation Nuns Washington West Point West Virginia Catholics West Viriginia Catholics Wisconsin Catholicism Women Religious World War II

Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Where did David hide from Saul for many years?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jericho Philistine camp The wilderness Jerusalem