Smith, Joseph 1805-1877
Mormon; born in Sharon, Vt., Dec. 23. 1805; was of Scotch [231] descent; removed to Palmyra, N. Y., where, at the age of twenty-two, he began preaching Mormonism, and followed it up until his violent death at the hands of a mob in Carthage, Ill., June 27, 1844. See Mormons.
Naval officer; born in Boston, Mass., March 30, 1790; entered the navy as midshipman in 1809; was distinguished in the battle at Plattsburg under Macdonough, where he was wounded; and was in the Mediterranean under Decatur in 1815. He was in constant service, afloat and ashore, for sixty years. From 1847 until 1869 he was chief of the bureau of yards and docks. He was promoted rearadmiral on the retired list in July, 1862, and died in Washington, D. C., Jan. 17, 1877.
