James Smith was born in Ireland in the early 18th century and later moved to Pennsylvania with his family. He received education from a local Church Minister and studied law at his older brother's office in Lancaster. Smith became a successful lawyer, practicing in the frontier town of Cumberland County before moving to York. He was a leader in the area and offered a paper in 1774 calling for a boycott of British goods and a General Congress of the Colonies. He organized a volunteer militia company in York and was elected Captain. Smith was appointed to various conventions and elected to the Continental Congress in 1776, where he served for two years. He retired from Congress in 1777 and served in few public offices after. He was appointed Brigadier General of the Pennsylvania militia in 1782 and was reelected to Congress in 1785 but did not attend due to his age. Unfortunately, little is known about his work as a fire destroyed his office and papers shortly before he died.
