Clergyman; born in
The Hague,
[
8]
Holland, Dec. 22, 1770, where his father was
Russian ambassador.
He belonged to one of the oldest and richest families among the
Russian nobles.
In 1792 he came to the
United States for the purpose of travel, but determined to become a
Roman Catholic priest.
He entered the St. Sulpice Seminary in
Baltimore, and was ordained a priest March 18, 1795, being the first priest who had both received holy orders and been ordained in the
United States.
He was sent on missions, but was recalled in consequence of his impetuosity and over-zeal.
In 1799 he was appointed pastor at
Maguire's settlement.
He purchased 20,000 acres in the present
Cambria county, Pa., which he divided into farms and offered to settlers on easy terms.
Although constantly hampered by lack of money to carry out the grand schemes he contemplated, his colony took root and soon sent out branches.
He had adopted the name of Schmettau, which was anglicized into
Smith, but in 1811 he resumed his own name.
He died in
Loretto, Pa., May 6, 1841.