Melancton Smith (May 7, 1744 – July 29, 1798) was a merchant, lawyer and a New York delegate to the Continental Congress. Praised for his intelligence, liberality, and reasonableness, Smith attained considerable respect in the State of New York by 1787 and he has been described by modern scholars as the most important Anti-Federalist theorist and spokesman. Additionally, Smith played an active and central role in the ratification of the United States Constitution. Smith manifested a life-long interest in metaphysics and religion, and in 1769 he helped organize the Washington Hollow Presbyterian Church and purchased one of its pews. In May 1777 was appointed Sheriff of Dutchess County, an office he retained until 1781. In the following year, the Provincial Commission selected Smith to be the Second Judge on the Court of Common Pleas. Michael Zuckert and Derek Webb, noting that it would be odd for one person to write two separate sets of essays covering similar topics and publishing at the same time, suggest that Smith instead collaborated closely with other Anti-Federalists. They find it more probable that he wrote one of the sets of essays, while another person or persons close to him wrote the other. A strong case has more recently been made for Elbridge Gerry as the Federal Farmer by John P. Kaminski and others.

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