Born in 1877 at Layfields, Rufford, Nottinghamshire, the second son of Henry Hardwick Smith, flour-miller of Langley Mill, and his wife Elizabeth Eaton. He was educated at Wycliffe College and at St John's College, Cambridge. He received his clinical training at St Bartholomew's Hospital, qualifying in 1904 and proceeding to the Fellowship in 1907. He then emigrated to Christchurch, New Zealand, but after a year there he was appointed medical superintendent of the Wellington General Hospital (1909-15); while filling this office he inaugurated a new children's hospital and a dental clinic. During the first world war he served in the New Zealand Medical Corps, reaching the rank of major, and serving for a time as surgical specialist in the hospital-ship *Marama*. In partnership with Dr W E Herbert he established the Bowen Street Hospital, Wellington, at that time the most up-to-date private hospital in the Dominion. He served again throughout the second world war as lieutenant-colonel, New Zealand Medical Corps. In 1945 he was called upon by the Government to organize a clinic at Wellington for ex-service men, and he directed it for a year. Hardwick Smith married in 1909 Helen, daughter of the Hon W H Triggs, a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council and editor of the Christchurch Press. Mrs Hardwick Smith survived him with one son, John Eaton Hardwick Smith, MB, BCh Cambridge 1938. He practised at 12 Boulcott Street, Wellington, living at Park Road, Western Hutt Road, and died at Wynyates, Belmont, Wellington on 6 October 1946.