Simms was born in
Strabane,
County Tyrone,
Ireland. After leaving school, he went to
Belfast where he served an apprenticeship with a merchant firm remaining with them for eight years. He was then appointed an inspector for the Caledonian Insurance Company. He worked in the
London office of the North China Insurance Company for three years. In 1899, he moved to Hong Kong as head of the North China Insurance Company's Hong Kong office and in 1908 was promoted to secretary of the company in its head office in Shanghai. While he was in Shanghai the North China Insurance Company amalgamated with the Union Insurance Society of Canton. Simms continued as secretary of the North China Insurance Company and branch manager of the Union of Canton Insurance Company. Simms was Hon. Treasurer and later President of the St Patrick's Society in Shanghai and was also Chairman of the
Shanghai Club from 1914 to 1920. ==Marriage==