Show F FIR FIRST AND PRESENT r T IF k benjamin njamin le stoddart right became the arst secretary of the navy on 01 jane line 18 1798 following the formation of the navy department on april 20 0 of that year under president ident john adams stoddart served until 1801 today coday the secretary of the most powerful navy in the worlds history is john L sullivan left who was sworn in to succeed james V forrestal estl restal when the latter became the nations first secretary of defense the fhe photo of stoddart Is that of a portrait painted by X E F andrews andrew official davv |