David Smith (Victorian politician)

David Smith (18 November 1861 – 24 January 1943) was an Australian politician.

David Smith
Member of the Victorian Parliament for Bendigo West
In office 1904–1924
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Arthur Cook
Personal details
Born	(1861-11-18)18 November 1861 Sheepshead Gully, Victoria
Died	24 January 1943(1943-01-24) (aged 81) Bendigo, Victoria
Political party	Labor (1904–14) Independent (1914–17) National Labor (1917–20) Nationalist (1920–24)
Spouse	Agnes Reed
Children	Sydney Smith Leslie Smith
Occupation	Blacksmith

Born at Sheepshead Gully near Bendigo to miner James Smith and Agnes Thompson, he attended schools in Bendigo before becoming a blacksmith, spending periods in Yarraville and Mirboo North. Around 1886 he married Agnes Elizabeth Reed, with whom he had two sons, Sydney and Leslie. In 1904 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Labor member for Bendigo West. Appointed Minister without Portfolio in 1913, he was expelled from the Labor Party in 1914 after supporting the teaching of scripture lessons in state schools. In 1916 he joined the National Labor Party and was a Nationalist from 1917. Smith left the Assembly in 1924 and died in 1943.