Stoddert, Benjamin

Stoddert, Benjamin

(1751–1813) public official; born in Charles County, Md. He was a Revolutionary militia captain and secretary to the Board of War of the Continental Congress (1779–81). As the first secretary of the navy (1798–1801) he added 50 vessels to the navy, pushed for the construction of docks and naval yards, and promoted the construction of a naval hospital at Newport, R.I. His business affairs suffered after 1801 and he died deeply in debt.