He was born at Pyrmont, the son of Samuel Smith.
He worked as a busdriver, and in 1925 became assistant secretary of the Federated Clerks' Union .
On 27 October 1928 he married Jessie May Robertson, with whom he had two children.
From 1931 to 1940 he was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.
Smith died at Erskineville in 1964.