Francis Hopkinson Smith (1838-1915) was an American artist, engineer, and author whose career embodied the creative energy of the Gilded Age. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was a descendant of Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Smith trained as a civil engineer and initially gained recognition for his engineering achievements, most notably for designing and overseeing the construction of the foundation of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

Beyond engineering, Smith was an accomplished painter and illustrator, known for his watercolors and scenes of coastal and European landscapes. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Smith was also a successful writer, penning popular novels and short stories often inspired by his travels and his keen observations of character and place.

Smith’s career reflected a rare blend of art, literature, and engineering, each discipline informing the others with a sense of craftsmanship and integrity. He was a frequent traveler and lecturer, and his genial personality and storytelling flair made him a beloved figure in both artistic and literary circles of his time. By the time of his death in 1915, Francis Hopkinson Smith had established himself as a quintessential Renaissance man of his era, leaving a legacy that bridged the practical and the poetic in American culture.