Poet, hymn-writer and Free Church minister. Born in Aberdeen, Smith was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School, Marischal College and the University of Edinburgh. He served churches in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Milnathort, and was Moderator of the Free Church in 1893. His most famous hymn is Immortal, invisible, God only wise (1876), while his prodigious output of poetry includes The Bishop's Walk (1860), Olrig Grange (1872), Borland Hall (1874), Hilda among the Broken Gods (1878), Raban (1880), North Country Folk (1883), Kildrostan (1884) and A Heretic (1890).
He died in Dunblane.