1778-1860 American writer who also was the United States Secretary of the Navy for 3 years. He worked with Washington Irving on a short-lived satirical periodical Salmagundi. The magazine coined the term Gotham to describe New York. Martin Van Buren appointed him Secretary of the Navy in June 1838. As Secretary, he was a conservative figure, whose extensive knowledge of naval affairs was balanced by notable lack of enthusiasm for new technology. Paulding was associated with the Knickerbocker literary group