Benjamin Stoddert

Benjamin Stoddert (* 1751 in Charles County, Maryland, † December 13, 1813 in Bladensburg, Maryland ) was an American politician ( Federalist Party) and the first Secretary of the Navy of the United States.

During the American Revolution Stoddert served in the Continental Army and was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. As a result, he retired into private life, and worked as a tobacconist.

The Department of the Navy was created by a federal law on 30 April 1798. U.S. President John Adams appointed Stoddert as Secretary of the Navy in his cabinet. The Quasi-War from 1798 to 1800 between France and the United States employed Stoddert from the beginning. Its main task Stoddert saw this in the organizational reshuffle after the liberation wars barely existing U.S. Navy.

In March 1801 Stoddert left office. He again worked as a businessman, but was there with little success. He died in December 1813 in Bladensburg, and was buried in Addison Chapel in Seat Pleasant.

According to him were in his honor, the USS Stoddert (DD- 302), in service from 1964 to 1991, called into service from 1920 to 1935, and USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG -22).

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