Smith was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, and lost his father when he was 5 years old.

He held several pastoral charges and was for a time editor of the Episcopal Recorder at Philadelphia.

[2] In the late 1860s, he helped establish schools and hire teachers to work with former slaves throughout the south.

Smith is listed as the architect of several buildings, including some listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places: Smith's home at 2833 Tremont Ave. in Highlands, Kentucky or Highlands, Louisville, or Louisville, Kentucky was considered for landmarking but was approved for demolition in 2017.

[6] A Gothic-style small study with a peaked roof that Smith used at his Louisville home is preserved on the grounds of the St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church ("near Prospect" in Louisville, Kentucky?).