Smitt studied in
Lund and
Uppsala where he received his doctorate in 1863. In 1861 and 1868 He participated in the Swedish expeditions to
Svalbard. In 1871 he was appointed professor at the
Swedish Museum of Natural History, where he was in charge of the Department of Vertebrates. From 1879 he also taught zoology at
Stockholm University. Smitt produced both popular works and many scientific papers. Besides his scientific work, Smitt also championed the modernization of the techniques herring fisheries. ==Taxon described by him==