His grandfather was Joseph Smith (1792–1841) Alderman and Burgess of Doncaster and his great grandfather William Smith of Rotherham (1767–1829) .
His uncle, Arthur Joseph Smith(1825–1891) was three times Lord Mayor of Doncaster.
He was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford.
He was called to the bar at Inner Temple and went on the North Eastern circuit.
He resigned the seat in February 1888[5] but died in May that year at the age of 36.