Career
Smith worked in the zoology department of the British Museum from 1849, specialising in the Hymenoptera. In 1875 he was promoted to Assistant Keeper of Zoology. His publications included Catalogue of Hymenopterous Insects (7 parts, 1853–1859) and parts 5 (1851) and 6 (1852) of the Nomenclature of Coleopterous Insects.
In theses volumes, he catalogued hundreds of bees.
Many of these bees he named including Bombus frigidus, Halictus coriaceus, and Nomia nasalis which he discovered. Smith was president of the Entomological Society of London, 1862-1863.