Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Robert Smith (1757-1842) --
2nd Secretary of the Navy, 27 July 1801 - 7 March 1809

Robert Smith was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on 3 November 1757. He served in the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. Following graduation from Princeton in 1781, he practiced law and was active in Maryland politics during the next two decades.

On 27 July 1801, Robert Smith became Secretary of the Navy in the Jefferson Administration. He held that position throughout the 1801-05 war with Tripoli. In 1809, Smith left his Navy post to become Secretary of State, remaining in that office until April 1811. He thereafter was active in Maryland affairs. Robert Smith died in Baltimore, Maryland, on 26 November 1842.

USS Robert Smith (DD-324), 1921-1931, was named in honor of Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith.

This page features our only views of Robert Smith.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 77361-KN (Color)

Robert Smith,
Secretary of the Navy, 27 July 1801 - 7 March 1809

Portrait by Freeman Thorpe.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 76KB; 580 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 54794

Robert Smith
,
Secretary of the Navy, 27 July 1801 - 7 March 1809

Portrait by U.D. Tenney, 1902.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 75KB; 590 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 54795

Robert Smith
,
Secretary of the Navy, 27 July 1801 - 7 March 1809

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 90KB; 600 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 66589

Robert Smith
,
Secretary of the Navy, 1801-1809

Stipple engraving, with a facsimile of his signature.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 74KB; 535 x 765 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

9 January 2000