Career
He represented Algoma in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1902 to 1908 and Algoma East in the Canadian House of Commons from 1908 to 1917 as a Conservative member. He was born in Thomroam Tarves, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of Francis Smyth. Smyth was a lumber merchant.
He was also president of the Nancy Helen Mine.
He led the 238th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1919 New Year Honours.