{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | birth_name = George Luke Smith | image = | name = George L. Smith | caption = | state = [[Louisiana]] | district = [[Louisiana's 4th congressional district|4th]] | term_start = November 24, 1873 | term_end = March 3, 1875 | preceded = [[Alexander Boarman]] | succeeded = [[William M. Levy]] | office2 = [[Louisiana State Legislature|Louisiana State Representative<br /> for Caddo Parish]] | term_start2 = 1870 | term_end2 = 1872 | birth_date = {{birth date|1837|12|11}} | birth_place = [[New Boston, New Hampshire|New Boston]], [[New Hampshire]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1884|7|9|1837|12|11}} | death_place = [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]], [[Arkansas]] | resting_place = West Street Cemetery, [[Milford, New Hampshire|Milford]], New Hampshire | spouse = | children = | party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | alma_mater = [[Union College (New York)|Union College]] | branch = [[Union Army]] | service_years = }}

'''George Luke Smith''' (December 11, 1837 &ndash; July 9, 1884) was an American businessman who served one-term as a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] for [[Louisiana's 4th congressional district]] from 1873 to 1875. The district at the time was anchored by the state's third largest city, [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]]. Before moving to [[Louisiana]], he had previously served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

== Early life and education == Born in [[New Boston, New Hampshire|New Boston]] in [[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire|Hillsborough County]] in southern [[New Hampshire]], Smith completed preparatory studies and attended [[Union College (New York)|Union College]] in [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]], [[New York (state)|New York]].

== Civil War == During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], he served in the [[Union Army]].

At the close of the war, he relocated to Shreveport to engage in mercantile pursuits.

== Early career == He served from 1870 to 1872 as a member of the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] during [[Reconstruction era in the United States|Reconstruction]].

=== Business === He was the proprietor of Shreveport Southwestern Telegram and president of the Shreveport Savings Bank & Trust Company.

=== Congress === Smith was elected as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] to the Forty-third Congress to fill the vacancy created by the death of Representative-elect [[Samuel Peters (Louisiana politician)|Samuel Peters]] and served from November 24, 1873, until March 3, 1875.

Considered by some to be a [[Carpetbagger]] due to his northern roots and service in the Union Army, Smith was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874 to the Forty-fourth Congress. He was succeeded by the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[William M. Levy]].

== Later career == Thereafter, Smith was appointed collector of customs at the port of [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]] by [[U.S. President]] [[Rutherford B. Hayes]], a position that he held from May 4, 1878, to February 20, 1879. He moved to [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]], [[Arkansas|Hot Springs]], [[Arkansas]], to engage in the [[real estate]] business until his death there.

He died in 1884 and is interred at the West Street Cemetery in [[Milford, New Hampshire|Milford]], New Hampshire.

== Legacy == Smith was the last Republican to hold the 4th district House seat in Louisiana until 1988, when [[Jim McCrery]] won a [[special election]] for the position to succeed [[Buddy Roemer]] who was elected [[governor of Louisiana]] the preceding year.

==External links== {{CongBio|S000539}}

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{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{US House succession box | state = Louisiana | district = 4 | before = [[Alexander Boarman]] | after = [[William M. Levy]] | years = 1873{{spaced ndash}}1875 }} {{s-end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, George Luke}} [[Category:1837 births]] [[Category:1884 deaths]] [[Category:Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives]] [[Category:Union army officers]] [[Category:People from New Boston, New Hampshire]] [[Category:Politicians from Shreveport, Louisiana]] [[Category:Politicians from New Orleans]] [[Category:Politicians from Hot Springs, Arkansas]] [[Category:American businesspeople in the real estate industry]] [[Category:Union College (New York) alumni]] [[Category:Businesspeople from New Orleans]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Arkansas]] [[Category:Republican Party United States representatives from Louisiana]] [[Category:Arkansas Republicans]] [[Category:People of New Hampshire in the American Civil War]] [[Category:19th-century American businesspeople]] [[Category:19th-century United States representatives]] [[Category:19th-century members of the Louisiana State Legislature]]