Born into the family of Senator Nikolai Mikhailovich Smirnov (1807-1870) from his marriage to Lady-in-waiting Alexandra Osipovna Rosset (1809-1882).

He graduated from the Imperial Novorossiysk University (Faculty of Natural Sciences),[2] having defended his thesis in 1867 for the degree of candidate.

20 Galaktion Tabidze Street), built in 1859 by Elizaveta's grandfather, Yegor Ivanovich Tamamshev, and designed by Otto Simonson.

Mikhail transported furnishings from his mother's apartment in Saint Petersburg, and after her death, he imported nearly all of her personal belongings.

This house was visited by Anton Rubinstein, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Niko Nikoladze, Petre Melikishvili and other representatives of the Russian and Georgian intelligentsia; here Ilia Chavchavadze celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pushkin.