MB ChB Manch 1945, MD 1955.
Smith was born on 11 July 1922 and was educated at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School and the University of Manchester. He held house appointments at Leigh Infirmary, Lancashire, where he began his work in clinical pathology. Smith served in the RAMC as pathologist and was then appointed registrar in the department of pathology to the Westminster Hospital, London. Smith came to Manchester as lecturer in pathology in 1954, and was later promoted to senior lecturer. In 1960 he was appointed consultant pathologist at Christie Hospital, where he quickly became known for his pioneering work in the drive to reduce cervical cancer rates through mass screening. On 22 August 1964 Smith was killed in a car crash in Italy.