Leon Smith (naval commander)

Leon Smith
Leon Smith in uniform
Nickname(s)Lion Smith
Born1829
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, US
Died26 December 1869(1869-12-26) (aged 39–40)
Wrangell, Alaska, US
Buried
San Francisco or Houston, Texas
AllegianceRepublic of Texas (possibly)
Confederate States
Service/branchRepublic of Texas Navy (possibly)
Confederate naval volunteer
Years of service1847–1848
1861–1865
RankCaptain
CommandsTexas Marine Department[a]
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Leonidas R. Smith (1829 – December 26, 1869) was an American steamboat captain and soldier. In the American Civil War he served the Confederate States of America as a volunteer; he was named Commander of the Texas Marine Department[a] under General John B. Magruder. Smith was involved in most major conflicts along the Texas coast during the war,[2][3] and was described by war-time governor of Texas Francis Lubbock as "undoubtedly the ablest Confederate naval commander in the Gulf waters".[4]


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  1. ^ Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1895
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Winsor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Day was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lubbock_p432 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).