J. Allen (James Allen) Smith

Born in Missouri in 1860, J. Allen Smith was a lawyer, economist, and political scientist who became known for his skeptical view of the American constitutional system. Sources from archival and reference collections describe him as a professor of political science at the University of Washington and later dean of its graduate school, after earlier teaching at Marietta College.

Smith is best remembered for The Spirit of American Government (1907), a book that argued the Constitution had conservative origins and often worked against direct democracy. That argument made him an influential figure in Progressive-era constitutional criticism, and his writing continued to be discussed long after his death.

Some sources disagree about the year of his death, listing either 1924 or 1926. Because the book records connected with this edition use 1860–1926, that is the date range reflected here.