Victor Smith's Lighthouse Legacy

In July 1861, Victor Smith arrived in Port Townsend, Washington Territory, the Port Entry for the Puget Sound Customs District. He came as the district's new collector of customs, appointed by President Abraham Lincoln on the advice of Secretary of Treasury Salmon P. Chase. As collector of customs, Smith's principle duties would be documenting vessels entering the port and collecting duties on behalf of the United States. In his role he could also remove and appoint keepers to the light stations within his district that included Cape Flattery, New Dungeness, Smith Island, and Admiralty Head. He would also be in charge of the district's revenue cutters. These Revenue Cutter Service ships guarded against smugglers from Canada. They also watched the movements of British ships along the Strait of Juan de Fuca because of Britain's sympathy with the South's Civil War cause.