The younger son of Henry Smith, professor of systematic surgery, when Sir Joseph (afterwards Lord) Lister was professor of clinical surgery, at King's College, London. Hugh Smith was educated at King's College, of which he was afterwards an Associate, and at King's College Hospital, where he was hou

Born in London on 9 June 1861, the sixth child and fourth son of John Henry Spreat, jeweller, and Harriet Jones, his wife. He was educated at Aldenham School until he entered St Bartholomew's Hospital. He acted for a time as resident medical officer at the Metropolitan Hospital before settling at Fi