Joseph Bryant Smith (December 29, 1826 – March 8, 1862) was an officer in the
United States Navy who was killed in action during the
American Civil War.
Early life and education
Joseph Bryant Smith was born on December 29, 1826,
in
Belfast, Maine, 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, in and with the
U.S. Coast Survey. 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 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, 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.
Legacy
Two ships have been named, for him.
See also
References
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{{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.)