PERSIFOR FRAZER SMITH - Original Member of the Aztec Club of 1847

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(11-16-1798 - 05-17-1858)
President: 1848 - 1852

Born in Philadelphia, PA, the son of Jonathan and Mary Anne (Frazer) Smith, he was a descendant of Joseph Smith who emigrated from Ireland to Chester County, PA, probably in 1720. After earning an A. B. from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University), 1815, he studied law until 1819 when he removed to New Orleans, LA where he held several civic and judicial offices. At the same time he commanded a company and battalion of militia and became Adjutant-General of Louisiana.

He married Frances Jeanette Bureau on January 19, 1822 by whom he had a son who became a physician in New Orleans. Following her death in 1852, on April 18, 1854 he married Anne Monica (Millard) Armstrong, widow of Maj. Francis W. Armstrong. In 1836 he raised a regiment of Louisianians for the Seminole War and served with distinction in the campaigns of 1836 and 1838. After his return he became a judge of the city of Lafayette and later the parish of Jefferson.

Persifor Frazer Smith

At the outbreak of the Mexican War he was commissioned Colonel, USA, May 27, 1846. After commanding a brigade in the army of Zachary Taylor in battles around Monterey, in which he directed the successful attacks against the forts on the south flank of the city, for his gallant conduct Smith was breveted Brigadier-General, September 23, 1846. He was thereafter transferred to Winfield Scott's army in command of a new regiment of mounted rifles. During the siege of Vera Cruz he defeated near Veragara a Mexican force that advanced to harass the besiegers; on the advance to Mexico City he commanded the First Brigade of the division under David Emanuel Twiggs. At Contreras he assumed command of three American brigades trapped between the superior forces of Santa Anna and Valencia where he conceived and executed a surprise attack in the early morning of August 20, 1847 which resulted in the destruction of Valencia's army. Gen. Smith further distinguished himself at Churubusco, Chapultepec and the capture of the Belen gate of the Mexican capital and was breveted Major-General for gallant and meritorious conduct. A member of the armistice commission that arranged for suspension of hostilities, he later served as military governor of Mexico City.

After the War he was assigned according to his brevet rank to command first the Pacific Division; then, 1850-1856, the Department of Texas; and in 1856 the Western Department, with headquarters in St. Louis. In April, 1858 he was assigned to command the Department of Utah, where the Mormons were opposing Federal authority, but died on May 17 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he had gone to organize his forces. He was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.

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