Noah Smith graduated from Yale University and was among the first two attorneys admitted to the Vermont bar. He served in various capacities during the American Revolution and held significant roles in Vermont's judicial system, including clerk of Bennington County’s court and justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. Smith also held the position of Vermont's first federal collector of customs and was involved in the Freemasons. His career transitions reflect a progression from military service to public administration and judicial roles.

Noah Smith's political career reveals an ideologically agile approach, blending traditional roles with unexpected policy convergences. His service as Vermont's first federal collector of customs and his judicial roles highlight a strategic focus on regional economic interests. Smith's legislative alignment with opposing factions on certain environmental regulations suggests a calculated effort to balance industrial and ecological concerns. His rhetorical style remains elusive, but his actions hint at a nuanced understanding of local versus federal interests.