Smith, Persifor F.

Born: 1798-11-16 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Died: 1858-05-17 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Smith attended the College of New Jersey (Princeton), graduating with a bachelor's degree at the age of seventeen. He read law with Charles Chauncey and in 1819 moved to New Orleans, where he gained admission to the Louisiana bar. In 1822, he married Frances Jeanette Bureau, with whom he had one child. Smith became interested in military affairs while practicing law, and he obtained a commission in the Louisiana State Militia. Aligning himself with the Whig Party, in 1835 he received appointment as adjutant general of the Militia over a Democratic rival. In 1836 and 1837, Smith commanded a force of Louisiana volunteers in several campaigns during the Second Seminole War. At the conclusion of his service in Florida, he returned to his law practice and position as adjutant general of the State Militia. He won election as judge of the city court of Lafayette, Louisiana, and later became judge for Jefferson Parish. In 1840, he helped organize what would become the Washington Artillery of New Orleans. In 1843, the new Democratic governor replaced Smith as adjutant general, and he assumed command of the Washington Artillery. When the Mexican War began, Smith received a commission as brigadier general of volunteers and assumed command of four regiments of Louisiana volunteers. He and his troops joined General Zachary Taylor in his campaign in northern Mexico. The enlistments of Smith's Louisiana troop ended before they saw action, but Smith remained with Taylor's army with the rank of colonel. He received command of a brigade in General William J. Worth's division. Smith's brigade led the army in its advance on Monterrey. He was breveted brigadier general of the U.S. Army for his meritorious and gallant conduct during the Battle of Monterrey. He also distinguished himself at the battles of Contreras and Chapultepec. For his service in these actions, he received brevet to major general. After the end of the fighting, Smith served on the armistice commission, as military governor of Mexico City, and as commander at Veracruz. After the war, he commanded the Pacific Division from 1849 to 1850, dealing with problems associated with the gold rush. From 1850 to 1856, he commanded the Department of Texas, where he built forts and combatted Native American uprisings in the New Mexico Territory. Frances Smith died in 1852, and in 1854, he married Anne Monica Millard Armstrong. In 1856, he received promotion to brigadier general of the U.S. Army. From 1856 to 1858, he worked unsuccessfully to keep peace in the Kansas Territory. In 1858, the War Department assigned him to command the Department of Utah. One month later, he died at his headquarters at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., "Smith, Persifor Frazer," American National Biography, ed. by John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 20:265-66.