An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 475

	REV. ROBERT J. SMITH, S. J., Professor of Rhetoric and Poetry, and Director
of Debating Society at Gonzaga College, Spokane, Washington, was born at
Benicia, California, August 15, 1852. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Smith,
natives of Ireland, came to America about 1850, and to the Pacific coast the
same year. His father was in the military service of the United States. Both
parents are deceased.
	In 1865 Robert J. entered the Sistersí School at Walla Walla. He remained
there until 1868, when he went to the Holy Angels (now St. James) College,
Vancouver, Washington, and in November, 1871, entered the Society of Jesus at
Santa Clara, California, and took an eight yearsí course. >From that institution
he was sent to San Francisco, and for five years taught in St. Ignatius College.
Then he went East, and at Woodstock, Maryland, studied a course of theology, at
the completion of which he was ordained at Ilchester by Cardinal (then
Archbishop) Gibbons.
	Returning West, Father Smith located at Spokane, Washington, and accepted a
position as one of the professors of English at the opening of Gonzaga College.
With this institution he has since been connected, being one of the most
efficient members of its faculty.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.