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Samuel L. Southard: Information from Answers.com

  • ️Sat Jun 09 1787
Samuel Lewis Southard


In office
September 16, 1823 – March 4, 1829
Preceded by Smith Thompson
Succeeded by John Branch

In office
October 26, 1832 – February 27, 1833
Preceded by Peter Dumont Vroom
Succeeded by Elias P. Seeley

In office
January 26, 1821 – March 3, 1823
Preceded by James J. Wilson
Succeeded by Joseph McIlvaine
In office
March 4, 1833 – June 26, 1842
Preceded by Mahlon Dickerson
Succeeded by William L. Dayton

Born June 9, 1787
Basking Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
Died June 26, 1842 (aged 55)
Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.
Political party Democratic-Republican, National Republican, Whig
Spouse(s) Rebecca Harrow
Alma mater College of New Jersey
Profession Politician, Lawyer, Teacher
Religion Presbyterian

Samuel Lewis Southard (June 9, 1787– June 26, 1842) was a prominent U.S. statesman of the early 19th century, serving as a U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, and the 10th Governor of New Jersey.

The son of Henry Southard and brother of Isaac Southard, he was born in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, attended the Brick Academy classical school and graduated from Princeton University in 1804. After teaching school in New Jersey, he worked for several years as a tutor in Virginia and studied law there. Upon being admitted to the bar, he returned to New Jersey, where he was appointed law reporter by the New Jersey Legislature in 1814. Elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1815, Southard was appointed to the New Jersey Supreme Court shortly thereafter, and in 1820 served as a presidential elector. He was chosen to fill the seat in the United States Senate vacated by the resignation of James J. Wilson, and served in office from January 26, 1821, to March 3, 1823. During this time, he was a member of the committee that produced the Missouri Compromise.

President James Monroe selected Senator Southard to be Secretary of the Navy in September 1823, and he remained in office under President John Quincy Adams. During these years, he also served briefly as ad interim Secretary of the Treasury (1825) and Secretary of War (1828). Southard proved to be one of the most effective of the Navy's early Secretaries. He endeavored to enlarge the Navy and improve its administration, purchased land for the first Naval Hospitals, began construction of the first Navy dry docks, undertook surveys of U.S. coastal waters and promoted exploration in the Pacific Ocean. Responding to actions by influential officers, including David Porter, he reinforced the American tradition of civilian control over the military establishment. Also on Southard's watch, the Navy grew by some 50% in personnel and expenditures and expanded its reach into waters that had not previously seen an American man-of-war.

In 1829, after leaving his Navy post, Samuel Southard became New Jersey Attorney General. After briefly serving as Governor of New Jersey in 1832-33, he re-entered the U.S. Senate. During the next decade, he was a leader of the Whig Party and a figure of national political importance. As President pro tempore of the Senate, he became Acting Vice President from April 4, 1841 to May 31, 1842 after the death of William Henry Harrison and his Vice President John Tyler becoming President. Failing health forced his resignation from the Senate in 1842. Samuel Southard died in Fredericksburg, Virginia on June 26 of that year. He was interred in the Congressional Cemetery.

The destroyer USS Southard (DD-207), (later DMS-10), 1919–1946, was named in his honor.

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United States Senate
Preceded by
James J. Wilson
United States Senator (Class 1) from New Jersey
January 26, 1821–March 3, 1823
Served alongside: Mahlon Dickerson
Succeeded by
Joseph McIlvaine
Preceded by
Mahlon Dickerson
United States Senator (Class 1) from New Jersey
March 4, 1833–June 26, 1842
Served alongside: Theodore Frelinghuysen, Garret D. Wall, Jacob W. Miller
Succeeded by
William L. Dayton
Military offices
Preceded by
Smith Thompson
United States Secretary of the Navy
1823–1829
Succeeded by
John Branch
Legal offices
Preceded by
Theodore Frelinghuysen
New Jersey Attorney General
1829–1833
Succeeded by
John Moore White
Political offices
Preceded by
Peter Dumont Vroom
Governor of New Jersey
October 26, 1832 – February 27, 1833
Succeeded by
Elias P. Seeley
Honorary titles
Preceded by
William R. King
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
March 11, 1841 – May 31, 1842
Succeeded by
Willie Person Mangum

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Cabinet Level

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Dept. of Defense

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Governors of New Jersey

Livingston · Paterson · Howell · Bloomfield · Ogden · W.S. Pennington · M. Dickerson · Williamson · Vroom · Southard · Seeley · Vroom · P. Dickerson · W. Pennington · Haines · Stratton · Haines · G. Fort · Price · Newell · Olden · Parker · Ward · Randolph · Parker · Bedle · McClellan · Ludlow · Abbett · Green · Abbett · Werts · Griggs · Voorhees · Murphy · Stokes · J. Fort · Wilson · Fielder · Edge · Edwards · Silzer · Moore · Larson · Moore · Hoffman · Moore · Edison · Edge · Driscoll · Meyner · Hughes · Cahill · Byrne · Kean · Florio · Whitman · DiFrancesco · McGreevey · Codey · Corzine · Christie (elect)

State seal of New Jersey

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United States Senators from New Jersey
Class 1

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United States Senate
Class 2

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Presidents pro tempore of the United States Senate

Langdon • Lee • Langdon • Izard • H Tazewell • Livermore • Bingham • Bradford • Read • Sedgwick • Laurance • Ross • Livermore • Tracy • Howard • Hillhouse • Baldwin • Bradley • Brown • Franklin • Anderson • Smith • Bradley • Milledge • Gregg • Gaillard • Pope • Crawford • Varnum • Gaillard • Barbour • Gaillard • Macon • Smith • L Tazewell • White • Poindexter • Tyler • W R King • Southard • Mangum • Sevier • Atchison • W R King • Atchison • Cass • Bright • Stuart • Bright • Mason • Rusk • Fitzpatrick • Bright • Fitzpatrick • Foot • Clark • Foster • Wade • Anthony • Carpenter • Anthony • Ferry • Thurman • Bayard • Davis • Edmunds • Sherman • Ingalls • Manderson • Harris • Ransom • Harris • Frye • (Special: Bacon • Curtis • Gallinger • Brandegee • Lodge) • Clarke • Saulsbury • Cummins • Moses • Pittman • W H King • Harrison • Glass • McKellar • Vandenberg • McKellar • Bridges • George • Hayden • Russell • Ellender • Eastland • Magnuson • Young • Magnuson • Thurmond • Stennis • Byrd • Thurmond • Byrd • ThurmondByrd • Stevens • Byrd

Seal of the United States Senate President Pro Tempore

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Chairmen of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
Military Affairs Committee
(1816–1947)

J. Williams • Troup • J. Williams • Jackson • Harrison • Benton • Preston • Crittenden • Benton • Davis • Shields • Weller • Davis • Wilson • Logan • Spencer • Randolph • Logan • Hawley • Walthall • Hawley • Warren • du Pont • Johnston • Chamberlain • Wadsworth • Reed • Sheppard • Reynolds • Thomas

Senate Seal.svg
Naval Affairs Committee
(1816–1947)

Tait • Sanford • Pleasants • Lloyd • Hayne • Dallas • Southard • Rives • R. Williams • Mangum • Bayard • Fairfield • Yulee • Gwin • Mallory • J. Hale • Grimes • Cragin • Sargent • McPherson • Cameron • McPherson • Cameron • E. Hale • Perkins • Tillman • Swanson • Page • F. Hale • Trammell • Walsh

Armed Services Committee
(1947–)

Gurney • Tydings • Russell • Saltonstall • Russell • Stennis • Tower • Goldwater • Nunn • Thurmond • Warner • Levin • Warner • Levin • Warner • Levin

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Cabinet of President James Monroe (1817-1825)
Vice President

Daniel D. Tompkins (1817 – 1825)

James Monroe, fifth President of the United States
Secretary of State

John Quincy Adams (1817 – 1825)

Secretary of the Treasury

William H. Crawford (1817 – 1825)

Secretary of War

John C. Calhoun (1817 – 1825)

Attorney General

Richard Rush (1817) • William Wirt (1817 – 1825)

Secretary of the Navy

Benjamin Williams Crowninshield (1817 – 1818) • Smith Thompson (1819 – 1823) • Samuel L. Southard (1823 – 1825)

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Cabinet of President John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
Vice President

John C. Calhoun (1825-1829)

John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States
Secretary of State

Henry Clay (1825-1829)

Secretary of the Treasury

Richard Rush (1825-1829)

Secretary of War

James Barbour (1825-1828) • Peter B. Porter (1828-1829)

Attorney General

William Wirt (1825-1829)

Secretary of the Navy

Samuel L. Southard (1825-1829)

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