smith, Samuel

Smith, Samuel (1752-1839) General: Smith traveled extensively through Europe as supercargo of one of his father's merchant ships. After the Battle of Lexington, he returned to America, and, in 1776, was appointed captain of the 6th company of Colonel William Smallwood's regiment of the Maryland line. He was commanded to go to Annapolis and seize Governor Robert Eden of Maryland on the basis of treasonous correspondence. When Smith arrived in Annapolis, however, the Committee of Safety forbad him from making the arrest because they claimed it would be an undue assumption of authority. Smith's regiment fought at the Battle of Long Island, the Battle of Harlem, and the Battle of White Plains, as well as the retreat from New Jersey. He was promoted to the rank of major, then lieutenant-colonel of the 4th Maryland regiment. He served with credit at the attack on Staten Island and at the Brandywine. At Fort Mifflin, Smith was seriously wounded, but nevertheless took part in the hardships of the winter at Valley Forge and at the Battle of Monmouth. After serving for three and a half years, he was reduced to poverty, and was forced to resign his commission, although he continued to serve in the Baltimore militia until the end of the Revolutionary War. The threat of war with France and England in 1794 led to Smith's appointment as brigadier-general of the militia of Baltimore, with the rank of major-general. Smith was elected a representative to Congress and a senator, and served a short term as Secretary of the Navy under President Thomas Jefferson. He fought in the War of 1812, helped found the Bank of Maryland, and was one of the projectors of the Washington monument and the Battle monument in Baltimore. Near the end of his life, he was elected mayor of Baltimore.