Smith Ely Jr. (April 17, 1825 – July 1, 1911) was an American politician, the 83rd Mayor of New York City, and a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York in the 19th century.
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Early life
He was born in Hanover Township, New Jersey on April 17, 1825. His father, Smith Ely Sr., was a leather merchant who had been a soldier in the War of 1812 and his paternal grandfather was Moses Ely, who fought under George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. His maternal grandfather was Ambrose Kitchell. His siblings lived together in their adulthood, including elder brother, Ambrose Kitchell Ely, William Henry Ely and his wife, Maria Josephine Rogers, Edwin Augustus Ely, and Maria Louise Ely, who married George Burritt Vanderpoel.
He completed preparatory studies and was graduated from the University of the City of New York (now New York University) and, in 1845, from New York University School of Law.