In August 1803, then-Lieutenant Smith took USS Vixen from Baltimore to Gibraltar, where on 14 September 1803 he joined the Mediterranean squadron of Commodore Edward Preble.

He took command of USS Syren[3] on 3 July 1805 and after a peace treaty with Tripoli was signed on 10 June 1805, he remained in the Mediterranean for almost a year helping to establish and maintain satisfactory relations with other Barbary states.

He delivered an army garrison from New York City to Passamaquoddy in June 1808, patrolled Casco Bay, Maine, in the winter of 1808–1809, and remained at Portland until May, 1809.

Upon the declaration of the War of 1812 USS Congress joined the squadron of Commodore John Rodgers, and distinguished herself by capturing five British vessels as recorded by Louis F. Middlebrook in Vol.

LXIII, October 1927 of Essex Institute Historical Collections:[4] November 1, 1812, off Western Islands, the British merchant ship Argo, 10 guns and 26 men, with a cargo of oil and whalebone, bound for London, and ordered to the United States.

At the end of the war, Captain Smith was transferred to command USS Franklin, but died before or right around her launch in August 1815.

a native of South Carolina, late Post Captain in the Navy of the United States, and commander of the FRANKLIN, of 74 guns, who departed this life at Philadelphia, on the 6th day of August, 1815, Aged 35 years and 7 months, Universally lamented by all who had the happiness of knowing him.

This tribute of respect for his many virtues was erected by his Affectionate Brother-in-law, Samuel Patterson, of South Carolina."