Robert Alexander Conrad Smith was born in Dover, England on February 22, 1857 and then his family moved to Spain, where he spent the next twelve years of his life, until 1869.

[5] After moving to the United States he became Commissioner of Docks and Ferries in New York City succeeding Calvin Tomkins.

[4] In 1903, Smith purchased the steamer Anstice and converted her into a yacht at the Harlan and Hollingsworth Company in Wilmington, Delaware.

[7] In 1915 he asked the city to cut his salary by $2,500, with the saved money to go to his assistants in his department.

[8] Smith died in Southampton, England on July 27, 1933, after cerebrovascular accident while on an ocean voyage.