Richard Penn Smith, b. March 13, 1799, d. Aug. 15, 1854; educated in Phila. and Huntingdon, Pa.; studied law under William Ravvle, Esq., at Phila., and was admitted to Bar, in 1820; inheriting from father and grandfather a taste for literary pursuits, he published series of essays in the Union, under title of "Plagiary," which possessed considerable literary merit. About 1822 he purchased the '"Aurora" of Mr. Duane, and was editor for five years, after which he returned to practice of his profession, but made frequent contributions to periodicals of the day. Among his published works are, "The Forsaken," a novel, 1831; "Actress of Padua and Other Tales," 1836; "Life of David Crockett," 1836; and a number of short tales. He wrote the "Tragedy of Caius Marius" for Edwin Forrest, and a number of comedies and tragedies, among them the "Venitian," in five acts.
He m. (first) May, 1823, his cousin, Elinor Matilda (Blodgett) Lincoln, dau. of Samuel Blodgett, by his wife, Rebecca Smith, dau. of Rev. William Smith, D. D., who had previously m. Abel Lincoln, of Mass. She d. June 5, 1822.
Richard P. Smith m. (second) 1836, Isabella Stratton, dau. of Christopher and Elizabeth Kinsall, b. Nov. 27, 1812, d. May 17, 1880.
