[1] Smith was born in Penpont, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, the son of Rev.
George Smith of the Church of Scotland and Jane Hogarth.
After serving as a constable in a Scottish county force, he went to London in 1879.
[2] He tendered his resignation as Commissioner early in December 1902 due to friction with the Police Committee over the administration of the force[5] and left office late that month.
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