James Francis Smith

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James Francis Smith (January 28, 1859 – June 29, 1928) was an American judge and public official who worked in the United States and the Philippines in the early 20th century. He studied at Santa Clara University, earning a B.S. in 1877 and a B.A. and M.A. in 1878, and then attended UC Hastings College of the Law. He practiced law in California from 1881 to 1898.

During the Spanish–American War, Smith served as a colonel in the 1st California Volunteer Infantry and helped with the Capture of Guam. In the Philippine-American War, he was the Collector of Customs in Manila and later took on roles with the Philippine Commission, including Secretary of Public Instruction and Vice-Governor.

Smith held several key positions in the Philippines: he was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 1901 to 1903, and Governor-General from 1906 to 1909. As governor-general, he promoted greater autonomy for the Philippines and Filipino participation in government; he attended the first Philippine Assembly’s inauguration in 1907. He also built a summer residence in Baguio in 1908, making his family the first residents there.

In 1910, President William Howard Taft nominated him to the United States Court of Customs Appeals (later the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals). He served as an Associate Judge from March 30, 1910, until his death on June 29, 1928, in Washington, D.C. He was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West.