Elbert Sidney Smith (October 27, 1911 – April 7, 1983) was an American politician and lawyer. Born, on a farm, in

Sangamon County, Illinois Sangamon County is a county located near the center of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 196,343. Its county seat and largest city is Springfield, the state capital. Sangamon County is inclu ...

. Smith was educated in the

Decatur, Illinois Decatur ( ) is the largest city in Macon County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. The city was founded in 1829 and is situated along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ...

public schools. He went to

Millikin University Millikin University is a private university in Decatur, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1901 by prominent Decatur businessman James Millikin and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). History Millikin was initially esta ...

and then received his law degree from

University of Alabama School of Law The University of Alabama School of Law, (formerly known as the Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. School of Law at The University of Alabama) located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the only public law school in the state. It is one of five law schools in the ...

1936. Smith practiced law in Decatur, Illinois. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Smith served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. From 1949 to 1957, Smith served in the

Illinois State Senate The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under th ...

and was a Republican. Smith then served as Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts from 1957 to 1961. Smith served in the 6th Illinois Constitutional Convention of 1969-1970 and was a vice president of the convention. Smith died in a hospital in Decatur, Illinois.'Elbert Smith, reformed state fiscal accounting,' Chicago Tribune, April 9, 1983, section 1, pg. 10

Notes

1911 births 1983 deaths People from Decatur, Illinois People from Sangamon County, Illinois Millikin University alumni University of Alabama School of Law alumni Illinois lawyers Auditors of Public Accounts of Illinois Republican Party Illinois state senators 20th-century American lawyers Members of Illinois constitutional conventions 20th-century members of the Illinois General Assembly {{Illinois-statesenator-stub