Born in Chapel Street, Belgrave Square, London, on 23 January 1809, he was eldest son of John Smith, who was appointed in 1830 paymaster of the forces in Ireland; his mother was a sister of George Connor, master in chancery in Ireland.
He entered in 1826 Trinity College, Dublin, where he obtained a scholarship in 1829, and was awarded the gold medal in classics in the following year.
[1] Smith joined on 20 June 1827 the Inner Temple, where, after practising for some years as a special pleader, he was called to the bar on 3 May 1834.
He practised for a time on the Oxford circuit and at the Hereford and Gloucester sessions, but later only in London.
He was buried in Kensal Green cemetery, and a tablet was placed to his memory in the Temple Church.