Background
Robert was born on November 3, 1757 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States. His parents were John Smith and Mary (Buchanan), daughter of Robert Buchanan.
(Title: Robert Smith's address to the people of the United...)
Title: Robert Smith's address to the people of the United States. Author: Robert Smith Publisher: Gale, Sabin Americana Description: Based on Joseph Sabin's famed bibliography, Bibliotheca Americana, Sabin Americana, 1500--1926 contains a collection of books, pamphlets, serials and other works about the Americas, from the time of their discovery to the early 1900s. Sabin Americana is rich in original accounts of discovery and exploration, pioneering and westward expansion, the U.S. Civil War and other military actions, Native Americans, slavery and abolition, religious history and more. Sabin Americana offers an up-close perspective on life in the western hemisphere, encompassing the arrival of the Europeans on the shores of North America in the late 15th century to the first decades of the 20th century. Covering a span of over 400 years in North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, this collection highlights the society, politics, religious beliefs, culture, contemporary opinions and momentous events of the time. It provides access to documents from an assortment of genres, sermons, political tracts, newspapers, books, pamphlets, maps, legislation, literature and more. Now for the first time, these high-quality digital scans of original works are available via print-on-demand, making them readily accessible to libraries, students, independent scholars, and readers of all ages. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification: ++++ SourceLibrary: Huntington Library DocumentID: SABCP01124900 CollectionID: CTRG93-B1600 PublicationDate: 18110101 SourceBibCitation: Selected Americana from Sabin's Dictionary of books relating to America Notes: Self-defense of his resignation as Secretary of State under Madison because of disagreements on foreign policy. Includes correspondence from James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. Collation: 41 p. ; 21 cm
https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Smiths-address-people-States/dp/1275647251?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1275647251
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Correspondence-Secretary-Plenipotentiary-Britannic/dp/1372836713?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1372836713
Robert was born on November 3, 1757 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States. His parents were John Smith and Mary (Buchanan), daughter of Robert Buchanan.
He was educated at the College of New Jersey, graduating in 1781.
For a time Smith served as a private in the Revolution. Later, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in Baltimore. He soon had the largest admiralty practice in the city.
From 1793 to 1795 Smith was a member of the Maryland Senate and then for some time a member of the House of Delegates; from 1798 to 1801 he sat in the Baltimore city council. By now he had become an ardent admirer of Jefferson, who, in 1801, after first offering the post to his brother, appointed him secretary of the navy. At the beginning of Jefferson's second term Smith asked to be transferred to the attorney-general's office; and this was done, Jacob Crowninshield being tendered his place in the navy department. The Senate confirmed both appointments, but since Crowninshield would not accept the position, Smith continued to act as secretary of the navy and after a few months gave up the attorney-generalship, continuing at the head of naval affairs until March 1809 without being recommissioned or reconfirmed.
As president-elect, Madison wished Gallatin to be his secretary of state, but his desire was opposed by a faction headed by senators Samuel Smith, William Branch Giles, and Michael Leib. In an effort to win their support he decided to give the treasury portfolio to Robert Smith, to be assisted in his duties by Gallatin from the State Department. Gallatin refused these terms, however, and Smith was made secretary of state. Friction developed inevitably between the Secretary and the President, for Smith sided with the Senate cabal, which continued its attack on Gallatin, and in his official capacity generally opposed the President's plans for commercial restrictions.
Matters reached a climax when Gallatin handed in his resignation early in March 1811. Madison refused to accept it, and sent for Smith. In the ensuing interview he criticized Smith for inefficiency, breach of trust, and causing discord in administration circles. As a way out, he offered Smith the position of minister to Russia, but after some hesitation the latter refused the offer, resigned his portfolio, and returned to Baltimore.
In June 1811 he published Robert Smith's Address to the People of the United States, an attempt at self-defense which further hurt his prestige. During the last thirty years of his life, spent in Baltimore, he filled offices in a number of private organizations. Robert Smith died in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 26, 1842.
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
(Title: Robert Smith's address to the people of the United...)
He was ambitious, industrious, courteous, and amiable.
On December 7, 1790, he married a distant cousin, Margaret, daughter of William Smith. Eight children were born to them, of whom only one, a son, lived to maturity.