E.J. Smith est né le 27 janvier 1850 à Staffordshire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni. Il était marié à Sarah Eleanor Smith. Il est mort le 15 avril 1912 à North Atlantic Ocean.
Smith held the rank of Commander within the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) and wore his two decorations when in uniform: the Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve and the Transport Medal.