Born on 4 June 1849,[1] Smirnov began his education in the Polotsk Cadet Corps, then transferred to the Pavlovsk Military School on 23 August 1865.

In 1874, Smirnov graduated second in his class from the course of sciences at the Nikolayev Academy of the General Staff and was assigned to the headquarters of the Kharkov Military District.

On 5 March 1875 he was appointed senior adjutant to the headquarters of the 36th Infantry Division and while there received a promotion to captain on 13 April 1875.

On 26 February 1894, Smirnov was promoted to major general for his distinguished service and was appointed chief of staff of the 9th Army Corps.

In September 1918, during the Russian Civil War, he was taken hostage by the Red Army and on 1 November 1918, together with generals Nikolai Ruzsky, Radko Dimitriev, and others, was shot at Pyatigorsk.