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William Stephens Smith (November 8, 1755 – June 10, 1816) was a United States representative from New York. He married Abigail "Nabby" Adams, the daughter of President John Adams, and so was a brother-in-law of President John Quincy Adams and an uncle of Charles Francis Adams Sr.
From the Battle of Long Island in 1776 until the withdrawal of British military forces from his native New York City in 1783, William Stephens Smith proved himself an exceptional military officer during the War for American Independence.
Jefferson wrote to Smith in 1787 about the new U.S. Constitution and the need for rebellion to preserve liberty. He used the phrase "tree of liberty" to describe the bloodshed of patriots and tyrants.
12 Jan 2002 · “From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 13 November 1787,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-12-02-0348. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson , vol. 12, 7 August 1787 – 31 March 1788 , ed. Julian P. Boyd. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1955, pp. 355–357.]
William Stephens Smith (November 8, 1755 – June 10, 1816) was a United States representative from New York. He married Abigail "Nabby" Adams, the daughter of President John Adams, and so was a brother-in-law of President John Quincy Adams and an uncle of Charles Francis Adams Sr.
During the Course of Service Colonel Smith has had many opportunities, of Signalizing himself by his galantry intelligence & professional knowledge, in the several Battles enterprizes and Seiges at which he has been present, particularly in the Actions of Long Island & Harlaem heights, at the Seige of NewPort, in the expedition under the orders...
Learn about the life and career of William Stephens SMITH, a Federalist representative from New York who served in the Revolutionary War and the Society of the Cincinnati. Find out his birth date, death date, and other facts and trivia.
