Gerrit Smith (1797-1874), in his day a well-known philanthropist, publicist, orator, abolitionist, temperance advocate, social reformer, and member of Congress, has been overshadowed by his acquaintances Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Lysander Spooner, Susan B. Anthony, and John Brown. He deserves to be better known, especially by libertarians, for his radical stand in defense of liberty.

Laurence M. Vance is the Director of the Francis Wayland Institute.
American HistoryGovernment and PoliticsLaw and LibertyPolitical Theory
Other Independent Review articles by Laurence M. Vance
Winter 2005/06 Francis Wayland: Preacher-Economist