Robert Smith (Cabinet member)

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 message)

Robert Smith
6th United States Secretary of State
In office March 6, 1809 – April 1, 1811
President	James Madison
Preceded by	James Madison
Succeeded by	James Monroe
United States Attorney General Acting
In office March 2, 1805 – August 7, 1805
President	Thomas Jefferson
Preceded by	Levi Lincoln
Succeeded by	John Breckinridge
2nd United States Secretary of the Navy
In office July 27, 1801 – March 4, 1809
President	Thomas Jefferson
Preceded by	Benjamin Stoddert
Succeeded by	Paul Hamilton
Personal details
Born	(1757-11-03)November 3, 1757 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, British America
Died	November 26, 1842(1842-11-26) (aged 85) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse	Margaret Smith
Education	College of New Jersey (BA)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Continental Army
Rank	Private
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War

Robert Smith (November 3, 1757 – November 26, 1842) was an American politician, diplomat, and admiralty lawyer. 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.

Smith was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War and later graduated from Princeton University, then known as the College of New Jersey. As a respected lawyer, Smith became part of Baltimore's political elite, launching his political career under Thomas Jefferson and later James Madison.^[1]

After a forced resignation from the Cabinet in 1811,^[1] Smith served as president of the American Bible Society and the Maryland Agriculture Society. Retired from public office, Smith died in 1842.