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Joseph Bryant Smith (December 29, 1826 – March 8, 1862) was an officer in the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
who was killed in action during the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
.


Early life and education

Joseph Bryant Smith was born on December 29, 1826, in
Belfast, Maine Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, Waldo County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the city population was 6,938. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River estuary on Belfast Bay (Main ...
, Smith was appointed
midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...
on October 19, 1841. After graduating with the Class of 1847, he served at the
Washington Navy Yard The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy. The Yard currently serves as a ceremonial and administrativ ...
, in and with the
United States Coast Survey United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two fi ...
. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1855, and soon afterwards was assigned to the steam frigate , his station until 1857. Smith next had ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C.


Career

In 1860, he was ordered to
frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
as her first lieutenant. He was in acting-command of ''Congress'' on March 8, 1862, when she was attacked and destroyed by the
Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...
ironclad An ironclad is a steam engine, steam-propelled warship protected by Wrought iron, iron or steel iron armor, armor plates, constructed from 1859 to the early 1890s. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships ...
, , and lost his life in the action. When his father, Captain
Joseph Smith Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he ...
, heard of the surrender of ''Congress'', he said, "Then Joe is dead," feeling that she never would have surrendered while his son lived. Smith was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...


Legacy

Two ships have been named, for him.


See also


References

* *


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Joseph B. 1826 births 1862 deaths United States Navy officers Union Navy officers People of Maine in the American Civil War Union military personnel killed in the American Civil War People from Belfast, Maine Burials at Oak Hill Cemetery (Washington, D.C.)