Henry A. Smythe

Henry Augustus Smythe[1] (1817 – May 19, 1884)[2] was an American politician who served as a Collector of Customs from 1866 to 1869.[3]

Henry A. Smythe
Collector of the Port of New York
In office
May 16, 1866 – 1869
PresidentAndrew Johnson
Preceded byCharles P. Clinch (Acting)
Succeeded byMoses H. Grinnell
Personal details
Born
Henry Augustus Smythe

1817
Hobart, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 19, 1884
New York City, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Political partyWhig, Republican
Spouse(s)Mary Franklin
Children3, including Helen
ProfessionBanker

Early life

Smythe was born in 1817 in Hobart, Delaware County, New York.[4] His father, a prominent lawyer, was one of the earliest settlers of the area and his grandfather, Anthony Marvine, also a lawyer, was a member of the New York State Assembly from Delaware County, 1804-1806.[5]

Career

After receiving his education, Smythe came to New York in 1836 and clerked in one of the "large jobbing and importing houses" that was formed in 1839,[6] later becoming a partner and then joining the Boston commission house of F. Skinner & Co. in 1846,[6] remaining until 1857.[4][1] In 1856, while traveling in a carriage from Bern to Basel in Switzerland, Smythe met and befriended novelist Herman Melville, who he later secured a job for as an inspector of customs when Smythe was the Collector of the Port of New York.[2]

In 1857, he established the house of Smythe, Sprague & Cooper, along with Marvelle Wilson Cooper,[7] where he was the managing partner until 1864 when he retired upon his election as president of the Central National Bank, which he also helped establish.[8]

Collector of the Port of New York

Smythe remained a leader of Central National Bank into 1866,[6] and a director of the Bank of Commerce,[8] when he was appointed Collector of the Port of New York by President Andrew Johnson on May 16, 1866.[3] At the time of his appointment, he was referred to by The New York Times as "a man of much energy of character, excellent business capacity, and will prove eminently efficient in the discharge of his duties. He was originally a Whig in politics, then a Republican, and is a thorough Union Man".[8]

He is most well known for his impeachment in March 1867, which accused him of corruption and,[9] with a resolution for his removal of office from the House, was ultimately ignored by President Andrew Johnson. Smythe left office in 1869, after a change of administration.[10]

Later career

In 1869, Smythe was tabled by the Senate for the position of United States Ambassador to Russia and did not receive his commission and Andrew Gregg Curtin was appointed by President Grant instead.[11] In 1872, Smythe, then a millionaire and citizen of Prince George's County, Maryland, was the president of the New York State Trust and Loan Company and was instrumental in the building of the Southern Maryland Railroad.[12] In 1874, he leased the former home of Charles A. Foote back in Hobart, New York.[13]

Personal life

Smythe was married to Mary Franklin (c. 1816–1894). Together, they were the parents of three daughters known as the "three handsome Smythe girls":[14]

Smythe died at the residence of his son-in-law, William Jaffray, in New York City on May 19, 1884. "Gradual paralysis had made him an invalid several years."[21]

References
  1. Gale, Robert L. (1995). A Herman Melville Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 419. ISBN 9780313290114. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  2. Parker, Hershel (2005). Herman Melville: A Biography. JHU Press. pp. 336, 603, 605, 861, 994. ISBN 9780801881862. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  3. "NEW-YORK'S CUSTOMS OFFICERS.; THE COLLECTORS, NAVAL OFFICERS, AND SURVEYORS SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE GOVERNMENT". The New York Times. July 20, 1878. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  4. 1847-1935, Dielman, Frederick (1866). "Celebration of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia by the colored people, in Washington, April 19, 1866 Henry A. Smythe, Esq". www.loc.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 14 August 2018.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. Lawrence Kestenbaum. "Marvine, Anthony". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  6. "THE COLLECTORSHIP. Confirmation of Henry A. Smythe—Duties of the Office—The Bonds, the Departments and their Personnel—His Patronage and Revenue—Sketch of the New Collector—The Regulations for Workers and Beggars" (PDF). The New York Times. May 11, 1866. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  7. Morris, Charles (1894). Makers of New York: An Historical Work, Giving Portraits and Sketches of the Most Eminent Citizens of New York. L.R. Hamersly & Company. p. 310. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  8. "WASHINGTON NEWS. The New-York Collectorship Settled at Last. Henry A. Smythe, President of the Central National Bank, Appointed. Mortifying Scenes of Drunkenness in the Senate. California Once more Disgraced by Her Representative. Bill in the House to Reimburse New-York for War Expenses. Correspondence About the French in Mexico Called For. Curious Proposition About Newspapers for Our Diplomatic Agents, Curious Proposition About Newspapers for Our Diplomatic Agents, Discussion Upon the Reorganization of the Army" (PDF). The New York Times. April 17, 1866. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  9. "NEW-YORK CUSTOM HOUSE. Public Propriety and Decency Demand His Removal. Great Abuses in the Business of Seizures. Very Curious and Important Testimony. The Custom-house Frauds. Disclosure Extraordinary of Abuses. History of the General Order Business. Opportunities Under It for Making Money. Collector Smythe's Appreciation of its Value. Negotiations for Disposing of the Rich Prize. The Friends of the President to be Taken Care Of. Scathing Exposure of Collector Smythe's Management. THE GENERAL ORDER BUSINESS. TESTIMONY OF ROBERT R. PHELPS. TESTIMONY OF COLLECTOR SMYTHE. TESTIMONY OF EDWARD C. JOHNSON. TESTIMONY OF SURVEYOR WAKEMAN" (PDF). The New York Times. March 4, 1867. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  10. Lawrence Kestenbaum. "Smythe, Henry A. (b. 1819)". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  11. Stewart, David O. (2010). Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln's Legacy. Simon and Schuster. p. 244. ISBN 9781416547501. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  12. "THURSDAY MORNING, March 7th, 1872". Saint Mary's Beacon. 7 Mar 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  13. "VICINITY". The Kingston Daily Freeman. 6 Feb 1874. p. 3. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  14. "Cunard--Padelford" (PDF). The New York Times. February 25, 1903. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  15. "PADELFORD". The Washington Post. December 27, 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  16. Social Register, New York. Social Register Association. 1899. p. 525. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  17. "WEDDINGS. Jaffray—Jaffray" (PDF). The New York Times. November 16, 1893. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  18. "MRS. W. P. JAFFRAY" (PDF). The New York Times. July 12, 1932. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  19. "DIED" (PDF). The New York Times. September 7, 1887. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  20. "Mrs. William Phillips Jaffray (1850-1932)". www.nyhistory.org. New-York Historical Society. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  21. "GOTHAM GOSSIP". The Times-Picayune. 20 May 1884. p. 6. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
Government offices
Preceded by
Charles P. Clinch
(Acting)		 Collector of the Port of New York
1866–1869		 Succeeded by
Moses H. Grinnell
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