Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Smith fought in the American Revolutionary War and later graduated from Princeton. His political career included serving as an elector for Maryland, in the Maryland State Senate and House of Delegates, and being appointed as Secretary of the Navy by Thomas Jefferson. He briefly held the roles of both Attorney General and Secretary of the Navy before focusing solely on the latter. Under James Madison's administration, Smith was appointed Secretary of State but was forced to resign due to policy disagreements with Madison.
Smith served as president of the American Bible Society and the Maryland Agriculture Society before retiring to a private life. He died in 1842, and the USS Robert Smith was named in his honor.
Eventually, President Jefferson appointed John Breckinridge to replace Smith as Attorney General and Smith resumed his role as a full-time Secretary of the Navy. Smith left the office of Secretary of the Navy at the end of President Jefferson's administration on March 4, 1809. President James Madison appointed Smith to serve as Secretary of State on March 6, 1809, and he served in this position until his forced resignation on April 1, 1811.[citation needed]
Policiesedit
Smith was closely allied with his brother, Maryland Senator Samuel Smith, and bitterly opposed Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin. Madison thought that Smith could be his own Secretary of State, but Smith so often pursued opposite policies that Madison finally demanded his resignation. In Madison's April 1811 "Memorandum on Robert Smith," the president offered a laundry list of Smith's shortcomings. Madison questioned Smith's loyalty; found Smith's diplomatic correspondence wanting, and noted that Smith had been indiscreet in conversations with the British and had opposed the administration's efforts to secure concessions from Britain and France by limiting trade.
Apparently, Smith was bewildered by these and other charges leveled by Madison and published an exoneration of himself, "Robert Smith's Address to the People of the United States," which was an attack on Madison's foreign policy. Madison offered Smith the post of Minister to Russia, which was currently held by John Quincy Adams. Smith considered the offer, but in the end, he refused the post.[1]
Personal lifeedit
Smith became the president of the not-yet-fully-organized American Bible Society in 1813. In 1818, he became the founding president of the Maryland Agriculture Society and afterwards retired to a more private life where he enjoyed his wealth.
^Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg. Madison and Jefferson, New York: Random House (2010), p. 495.
Clifford Egan, "Robert Smith" in Edward S. Mihalkanin, ed. American Statesmen: Secretaries of State from John Jay to Colin Powell, Greenwood Press 2004, pp. 478–83.
robert, smith, cabinet, member, other, people, with, same, name, robert, smith, disambiguation, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, pr. For other people with the same name see Robert Smith disambiguation This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations August 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Robert Smith November 3 1757 November 26 1842 was an American politician He served as the second United States Secretary of the Navy from 1801 to 1809 and the sixth United States Secretary of State from 1809 to 1811 He was the younger brother of Senator Samuel Smith Robert Smith6th United States Secretary of StateIn office March 6 1809 April 1 1811PresidentJames MadisonPreceded byJames MadisonSucceeded byJames MonroeUnited States Attorney GeneralActingIn office March 2 1805 August 7 1805PresidentThomas JeffersonPreceded byLevi LincolnSucceeded byJohn Breckinridge2nd United States Secretary of the NavyIn office July 27 1801 March 4 1809PresidentThomas JeffersonPreceded byBenjamin StoddertSucceeded byPaul HamiltonPersonal detailsBorn 1757 11 03 November 3 1757Lancaster Pennsylvania British AmericaDiedNovember 26 1842 1842 11 26 aged 85 Baltimore Maryland U S Political partyDemocratic RepublicanSpouseMargaret SmithEducationCollege of New Jersey BA renamed Princeton SignatureMilitary serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch serviceContinental ArmyBattles warsAmerican Revolutionary WarBorn in Lancaster Pennsylvania Smith fought in the American Revolutionary War and later graduated from Princeton His political career included serving as an elector for Maryland in the Maryland State Senate and House of Delegates and being appointed as Secretary of the Navy by Thomas Jefferson He briefly held the roles of both Attorney General and Secretary of the Navy before focusing solely on the latter Under James Madison s administration Smith was appointed Secretary of State but was forced to resign due to policy disagreements with Madison Smith served as president of the American Bible Society and the Maryland Agriculture Society before retiring to a private life He died in 1842 and the USS Robert Smith was named in his honor Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Policies 3 Personal life 3 1 Legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editSmith was born in Lancaster in the Province of Pennsylvania During the American Revolutionary War he fought in the Continental Army and participated in the Battle of Brandywine He graduated from Princeton in 1781 and began to practice law in Maryland Career editSmith was selected as an elector to the Electoral College representing Maryland during the 1788 89 United States presidential election He was then elected to the Maryland State Senate from 1793 to 1795 and to the Maryland House of Delegates from 1796 to 1800 President Thomas Jefferson appointed him as Secretary of the Navy in July 1801 after William Jones declined the position On March 2 1805 the Senate confirmed the appointments of Smith as United States Attorney General and Jacob Crowninshield as Secretary of the Navy However Crowninshield declined his appointment so Smith briefly served as both Attorney General and Secretary of the Navy Eventually President Jefferson appointed John Breckinridge to replace Smith as Attorney General and Smith resumed his role as a full time Secretary of the Navy Smith left the office of Secretary of the Navy at the end of President Jefferson s administration on March 4 1809 President James Madison appointed Smith to serve as Secretary of State on March 6 1809 and he served in this position until his forced resignation on April 1 1811 citation needed Policies edit Smith was closely allied with his brother Maryland Senator Samuel Smith and bitterly opposed Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin Madison thought that Smith could be his own Secretary of State but Smith so often pursued opposite policies that Madison finally demanded his resignation In Madison s April 1811 Memorandum on Robert Smith the president offered a laundry list of Smith s shortcomings Madison questioned Smith s loyalty found Smith s diplomatic correspondence wanting and noted that Smith had been indiscreet in conversations with the British and had opposed the administration s efforts to secure concessions from Britain and France by limiting trade Apparently Smith was bewildered by these and other charges leveled by Madison and published an exoneration of himself Robert Smith s Address to the People of the United States which was an attack on Madison s foreign policy Madison offered Smith the post of Minister to Russia which was currently held by John Quincy Adams Smith considered the offer but in the end he refused the post 1 Personal life editSmith became the president of the not yet fully organized American Bible Society in 1813 In 1818 he became the founding president of the Maryland Agriculture Society and afterwards retired to a more private life where he enjoyed his wealth Robert Smith died in Baltimore Maryland on November 26 1842 aged 85 Legacy edit The USS Robert Smith was named for him References edit Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg Madison and Jefferson New York Random House 2010 p 495 Clifford Egan Robert Smith in Edward S Mihalkanin ed American Statesmen Secretaries of State from John Jay to Colin Powell Greenwood Press 2004 pp 478 83 External links editRobert Smith at Find a Grave Robert Smith at the Naval Historical Center Robert Smith at the United States Department of State Robert Smith at the Hall of the Secretaries of StatePolitical officesPreceded byBenjamin Stoddert United States Secretary of the Navy1801 1809 Succeeded byPaul HamiltonPreceded byJames Madison U S Secretary of StateServed under James Madison1809 1811 Succeeded byJames Monroe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Smith Cabinet member amp oldid 1154002236, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
