Background
Smyth was born in 1830 in Inch, County Cork, Ireland to Jonas Smyth and his wife Mary (née Capel) and educated at Riordan"s Classical School, Cloyne.
Smyth was born in 1830 in Inch, County Cork, Ireland to Jonas Smyth and his wife Mary (née Capel) and educated at Riordan"s Classical School, Cloyne.
When he was around 31 years of age he travelled to Queensland and, in conjunction with Thomas McIlwraith, managed several properties. He later became a Company director of the Darling Downs and Western Land Company and the Queensland Investment and Land Mortgage Company
Appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council in May 1882, Smyth served for twenty-eight years before resigning in July 1910. Smyth died in 1914 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.