Larkin Smith (Virginia politician)

Larkin Smith (born circa 1823, died 1888) was a Virginia lawyer, planter, and politician. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing King George County and Westmoreland County at various times between 1852 and 1865, and again from 1869 to 1871. He was a delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 where he initially voted against secession, later changing his vote after Fort Sumter. During the American Civil War, Smith served in the Confederate Army, attaining the rank of Major. Following the war, he resumed his legal practice and political activities, including serving in the Virginia legislature during the Reconstruction era. He advocated for policies aimed at restoring the economic and social order of Virginia after the war. His political career reflects the significant shifts and challenges faced by Virginia during the mid-19th century, encompassing the antebellum period, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.