Alexander Smyth
Alexander Smyth | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 22nd district | |
In office March 4, 1827 – April 17, 1830 | |
Preceded by | Benjamin Estil |
Succeeded by | Joseph Draper |
In office March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | |
Preceded by | Hugh Nelson |
Succeeded by | Benjamin Estil |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 6th district | |
In office March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1823 | |
Preceded by | Daniel Sheffey |
Succeeded by | George Tucker |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Wythe County | |
In office 1826 Alongside Montgomery Friel | |
In office 1816 Alongside Jacob Fishback | |
In office 1804–1807 Alongside Joseph Crockett and Samuel Graham | |
In office 1801 Alongside Daniel Sheffey | |
In office 1796 Alongside Francis Carter | |
In office 1792 Alongside William Caffee | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1765 Rathlin Island, County Antrim, Kingdom of Ireland |
Died | April 17, 1830 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 64–65)
Resting place | Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C. |
Political party | Jacksonian |
Other political affiliations | Democratic-Republican |
Spouse | Nancy Binkley |
Children | Malvina Smyth |
Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1808 – 1813 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Commands | Regiment of Riflemen |
Battles/wars | |
Alexander Smyth (1765 – April 17, 1830) was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. Smyth served in the Virginia Senate, Virginia House of Delegates, United States House of Representatives and as a general during the War of 1812. Smyth County, Virginia, is named in his honor.
Early life
[edit]Smyth was born on Rathlin Island in County Antrim (part of the Kingdom of Ireland). He immigrated to the United States with his father, Rev. Alfred Smythe at the age of 10, and settled in Botetourt County, Virginia, in 1775 where he completed preparatory studies. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Abingdon, Virginia.
Smyth moved to Wythe County, Virginia, and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1792, 1796, 1801, 1802, and from 1804 to 1808. He served in the Virginia Senate in 1808 and 1809.
Military career
[edit]Smyth served in the United States Army from 1808 to 1813. Commissioned as a colonel in 1808, he served as Inspector General to William Eustis, the acting War Secretary.
Shortly after the outbreak of the War of 1812, Smyth was promoted to brigadier general on July 6, 1812. During the Battle of Queenston Heights he refused to support his commander, General Stephen Van Rensselaer, a militia commander with no experience. After Van Rensselaer's disgrace, Smyth was given command and proved himself equally inept. His plan to invade Canada started with the Battle of Frenchman's Creek but was then abandoned because of problems due to poor organization.[1]
After the failed attack on Canada, Smyth was insulted by Brigadier General Peter B. Porter, who accused Smyth of cowardice.[2] Smyth challenged Porter to a duel, but both men went unscathed. The historian John R. Elting wrote of the duel, stating, "Unfortunately, both missed."[3] In the wake of his failure, Smyth's name was removed from the U.S. Army rolls.[4]
Postwar career
[edit]After the war, Smyth resumed the practice of law, and again became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1816, 1817, 1826, and 1827. He was elected to the Fifteenth United States Congress and reelected to the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1817, to March 3, 1825. He was elected again to the Twentieth and Twenty-first Congresses, serving again from March 4, 1827, until his death.
Smyth died in Washington, D.C., and was interred in the United States Congressional Cemetery. Smyth County, Virginia, is named after him.
Electoral history
[edit]- 1817; Smyth was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 66.99% of the vote, defeating Federalist Benjamin Estill.
- 1819; Smyth was re-elected unopposed.
- 1821; Smyth was re-elected unopposed.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Notes
- ^ Quimby, p. 77
- ^ Kellman, Rich (December 7, 2012). "War of 1812: Part V - Heroes and Villains". WBFO. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
- ^ Elting, p. 51
- ^ Quimby, p. 78
- Bibliography
- Elting, John R. (1991). Amateurs, to Arms! A Military History of the War of 1812. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. p. 51. ISBN 0-306-80653-3.
- Quimby, Robert S. (1997). The U.S. Army in the War of 1812: An Operational and Command Study. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press. ISBN 0-87013-441-8.
- United States Congress. "Alexander Smyth (id: S000646)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. [1]
External links
[edit]- Media related to Alexander Smyth at Wikimedia Commons
- 1765 births
- 1830 deaths
- American people of Scotch-Irish descent
- Inspectors general of the United States Army
- Irish emigrants to the United States
- Members of the Virginia House of Delegates
- United States Army generals
- Virginia state senators
- United States Army personnel of the War of 1812
- Burials at the Congressional Cemetery
- Virginia lawyers
- Politicians from Abingdon, Virginia
- Democratic-Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
- Jacksonian members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
- American duellists
- People from Botetourt County, Virginia
- 18th-century American lawyers
- 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives