Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858

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American general.

From the description of ALS : Ringgold Barracks, Tex., to the Assistant Adjutant General, Western Division, 1853 Oct. 18. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122365136

Persifor Smith served as Brevet Major General commanding the 8th Military Department (Texas). He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., son of Jonathan and Mary Anne Frazer Smith.

From the description of Letterbook, 1851-1854. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 122489215

Persifor Frazer Smith, an officer in the U.S. Army, served in the Seminole War, 1836-1838, in the Mexican War, 1846-1848, and commanded the Pacific Division, the Department of Texas, 1850-1856, the Western Department, 1856-1858, and the Department of Utah, 1858.

From the description of Papers, 1770-1873. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 122689670

Persifor Frazer Smith (November 16, 1798 – May 17, 1858) was a U.S. Army officer during the Seminole Wars and Mexican-American War. He was also one of the last governors of California before it became a state and he commanded the Department of Texas. Smith served first in the Seminole Wars in Florida and then in the Mexican–American War. He commanded the 2nd Brigade in William J. Worth's Division at the Battle of Monterrey. He was then brevetted brigadier general in September 1846 and served as commander of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division in Winfield Scott's army. He and his brigade fought in the battles of Veracruz, Cerro Gordo and Contreras. He was brevetted major general for and fought in several battles for Mexico City. He later served as military governor of Mexico City. After the war ended, he commanded the Pacific Division of the U.S. Army. He next commanded the Department of Texas, where he selected the site for Fort Davis and issued orders for the establishment of Fort Lancaster. He also authorized construction of Forts Ewell, Merrill, Clark, Terrett, Mason, McKavett, Chadbourne, Phantom Hill, and Belknap, creating a double line of forts protecting Texas’ southern and western borders. He died at Leavenworth, Kansas, while trying to quiet a disturbance.

From the guide to the Persifor F. Smith letter, 1858, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Persifor F. Smith graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and studied law before settling in New Orleans, La. His military career began with service in the volunteer companies of New Orleans. He served in the Seminole War, 1836-1838, in the Mexican War, 1846-1848, and commanded the Pacific Division, the Department of Texas, 1850-1856, the Western Department, 1856-1858, and the Department of Utah, 1858, achieving the rank of Brigadier General.

From the description of Persifor F. Smith collection, 1858. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 299046902

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858. Persifor F. Smith collection, 1858. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn T. Butler King Papers,  , 1773-1868, 2003, (bulk 1835-1868) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
creatorOf Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. Plan of a field work designed for the defence of a depot at Brownsville, Texas / in comformity with the orders of the War Department communicated to Genl P.F. Smith, commanding the 8th Military Department, to whom it is now respectully submitted ; by Richd Delafield, Maj. of Engineers ; approved . Persifor F. Smith. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
creatorOf McDougal, John, 1818-1866. John McDougal correspondence, 1851-1860. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866. Letter to Major General P. F. Smith. New York, NY. 1855 Apr. 14. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858. Letterbook, 1851-1854. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Nicholas Philip Trist Papers, 1795-1873, (bulk 1831-1848) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858. ALS : Ringgold Barracks, Tex., to the Assistant Adjutant General, Western Division, 1853 Oct. 18. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Sanderson, Winslow F., d. 1853. Winslow Fuller Sanderson papers, 1846-1860. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Bash, L. H. Notes on the life of Brevet Major General Persifor Frazer Smith : U.S.A. : ms., 1927. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Kearny, Stephen Watts, 1794-1848. Stephen Watts Kearny collection of papers, [ca. 1847-1848]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Walker, William Stephen. Letter: to My dear Uncle /by William Stephen Walker, 1847 Sep 20. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Geary, John White, 1819-1873. Letter : to Major General Persifor Smith / by John White Geary, 1856 Sep 19. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Wilson, David E. David E. Wilson letters, 1849-1855. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858. Papers, 1824. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858. Letter to Irvin McDowell : Sonoma, Calif. : 1850 May 25. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Buell, Don Carlos, 1818-1898. Papers, 1841-1862. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
creatorOf Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858. Papers, 1770-1873. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn George Brinton McClellan Papers, 1783-1898, (bulk 1850-1885) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Wilkins, John Darragh, d. 1900. Memorandum and letters, 1846-1848. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889. Letter : [Washington, D.C.], to Hon. R. McClellan[d], [Washington, D.C.], 1853 Apr. 30. Newberry Library
creatorOf Persifor F. Smith letter, 1858 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn Adee, William F., d. 1847. Letters : to his Father, Samuel H. Adee / by William F. Adee, 1847. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adee, William F., d. 1847. person
associatedWith Bash, L. H. person
associatedWith Buell, Don Carlos, 1818-1898. person
associatedWith Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889. person
associatedWith Delafield, Richard, 1798-1873. person
associatedWith Geary, John White, 1819-1873. person
associatedWith Kearny, Stephen Watts, 1794-1848. person
associatedWith King, T. Butler (Thomas Butler), 1800-1864 person
correspondedWith McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885. person
associatedWith McDougal, John, 1818-1866. person
associatedWith McDowell, Irvin, 1818-1885. person
associatedWith Sanderson, Winslow F., d. 1853. person
associatedWith Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866. person
associatedWith Springton Forge. corporateBody
associatedWith Stanley, Matthew. person
correspondedWith Trist, Nicholas Philip, 1800-1874. person
associatedWith United States. Army. corporateBody
associatedWith Utah Expedition, 1857-1858 corporateBody
associatedWith Walker, William Stephen. person
associatedWith Wilkins, John Darragh, d. 1900. person
associatedWith Wilson, David E. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Texas
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Subject
Forge shops
Government, Law and Politics
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Military
Military funerals
Occupation
Generals
Activity

Person

Birth 1798-11-16

Death 1858-05-17

Male

Information

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