Robert Smith (bishop)

Robert Smith (1732–1801) was the first American Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina.^[1]

At age 25, Smith became the rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Charleston. He was consecrated bishop of South Carolina in 1795, the sixth bishop in the American Episcopal succession.

Smith was one of the prominent South Carolinians to sign the charter of the College of Charleston in 1785.^[2] Smith also served as the first president of the College between 1790 and 1797.^[3] He maintained his residence at 6 Glebe Street, in Charleston's Harleston Village neighborhood, between the house's construction in 1770 and his death in 1801. This house was constructed on the glebe of St. Philip's Episcopal Church as the parsonage house. Additionally, it served as the location of some of the College's first classes.^[4] The house is now a part of the College of Charleston, serving as its President's House, and is officially known as the Bishop Robert Smith House.^[5]

Consecrators

• Samuel Seabury, 1st bishop of the Episcopal Church, serving Connecticut, and 2nd Presiding Bishop.
• Samuel Provoost, 3rd bishop of the Episcopal Church, first bishop of New York
• James Madison, 4th bishop of the Episcopal Church, first bishop of Virginia

See also

• List of Bishop Succession in the Episcopal Church

Notes and references

1. Listing for The American Revolution and Righteous Community: Selected Sermons of Bishop Robert Smith, edited by Charles Wilbanks
2. Board of Trustees of the College of Charleston: Overview
3. College of Charleston Archives: Inventory of Historical Records, 1785-1970
4. Guidebook of the Charleston Multimedia Project, Charleston County Public Library
5. College of Charleston: Style Guide, by the College of Charleston's Division of Marketing and Communications

External links

• Web site of the Diocese of South Carolina
• Episcopal Church in the United States of America
• College of Charleston