Joseph Bryant Smith (December 29, 1826 – March 8, 1862) was an officer in the United States Navy who was killed in action during the American Civil War.

After graduating with the Class of 1847, he served at the Washington Navy Yard, in Mississippi and with the United States Coast Survey.

He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1855, and soon afterwards was assigned to the steam frigate Merrimack, his station until 1857.

Smith next had ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C.

He was in acting-command of Congress on March 8, 1862, when she was attacked and destroyed by the Confederate ironclad, CSS Virginia, and lost his life in the action.