Sir Albert James Smith (1822-1883) was a successful Dorchester lawyer, politician, ship owner and businessman. “Bully-boy Smith”, the “Smasher of Privilege”, the “Douglas of Dorchester” and the “Lion of Westmorland” were some of the colourful nicknames given to him as a New Brunswick politician. He was elected Premier of New Brunswick in 1865.
He went on to become a very successful federal minister of Marine and Fisheries under Alexander MacKenzie. In 1877, he negotiated $5.5 million in financial compensation for American fisheries in Canadian waters. This victory brought Smith the first knighthood in the history of the province. It is Smith who brought a federal penitentiary to Dorchester in 1880. Sir Albert Smith died in Dorchester on 30 June 1883.