Robert G. Smith (colonel)

Robert G. Smith (1854–1923) was an Irish-born American Brevet Brigadier General of the Spanish–American War. He was known as the Colonel of the 4th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment and a notable figure during the early 20th–Century of Jersey City.

Robert G. Smith
Born	October 1854 Belfast, County Down, United Kingdom
Died	December 5, 1923(1923-12-05) (aged 69) Sayville, New York, U.S.
Buried	Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	New Jersey National Guard
Years of service	1877–1906
Rank	Colonel (Volunteers) Bvt. Brigadier General (Regular Army)
Commands	4th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles / wars	Spanish–American War

Military career

Smith was born in October 1854 and shortly after, immigrated for New Jersey. He enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard on 1877 and was promoted to colonel in 1897.^[1] Upon the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, Smith enrolled to become the Colonel of the 4th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment under Adjutant General William Scudder Stryker on June 30, 1898.^[2][3] The regiment was mustered at Sea Girt on July 18, 1898, by Captain W. C. Buttler but the regiment saw no active service during the war and Smith was mustered out on November 3, 1898, at Camp George Meade.^[2] After the war, Smith would continue to serve in the New Jersey National Guard as a colonel until his retirement on May 17, 1906, with the rank of Brevet Brigadier General.^[4][5] During the nomination of his Brigadier General status by the New Jersey Legislature, Smith moved to Washington, D.C., to secure his position.^[6]

Later careers and memberships

Smith would continue to gain prominence in Jersey City by becoming the president of the Board of Commissioners and Water Commissioners and served as a member of the Excise Board of Washington, D.C., on 1914. He served as a member of the Naval and Military Order of the Spanish War and the Spanish–American War Veterans. Smith was also a freemason as he served at the Lodge of Temple No. 110 at Sayville, New York and the Masonic Veterans Association at Washington, D.C. While serving as the marine superintendent of the Cunard S.S. Lines, he died at Sayville on December 5, 1923, and was buried at the Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery.^[1]

Awards

• Military Order of Foreign Wars^[1]

References

1. "GEN. ROBERT SMITH DIES AT SAYVILLE". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 7, 1923. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
2. Roeher, William F. (1902). Record of Fourth New Jersey National Guard, Volunteer Infantry, Spanish-American War, 1898–1899. Jersey City. p. 90. Retrieved November 20, 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
3. "4th New jersey Roster". The Spanish-American War Centennial Website. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
4. Compiled Statutes of New Jersey. Vol. 5. Newark, NJ: Soney & Sage. 1911. p. 6025. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
5. Van Doren Honeyman, Abraham (1910). Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896–1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the "General Statutes" and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed : and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period. Plainfield, NJ: New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company. p. 202. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
6. Nomination of Robert G. Smith: Hearings Before the Subcommittee of the District of Columbia United States Senate. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. April 18, 1916. p. 86. Retrieved November 21, 2022.