He was appointed President of Douai College, in succession to Francis Gage, on 28 August 1682, and while in that post he inherited a large estate from his father (most of which he granted to a younger brother).
[1] After his consecration he went to his vicariate, arriving on 2 August at York, where he was received by the secular and regular clergy, who sang the Te Deum.
On the flight of the king, Smith left York and sought refuge in the house of Francis Tunstall of Wycliffe, who gave him hospitality and protection till the time of his death.
[1] In 1700 it was contemplated that he should be promoted to the cardinalate and to the office of Protector of England, which had been vacant since the death of Cardinal Howard; the Duke of Berwick and Dr. George Witham were commissioned from St. Germain to solicit this appointment from Clement XI.
Upon the death of John Leyburn in 1702, Smith was solicited for the London District, but expressed his reluctance to accept and recommended instead Bonaventure Giffard.