Baird Smith proceeded to the
East India Company's
Military Seminary at Addiscombe, from where he obtained his commission in December 1836. He joined the
Madras Engineers in 1838. Being transferred to the
Bengal Engineers, he served through the
second Anglo-Sikh War, and was present at the battles of Hatiiwal,
Aliwal and
Sobraon. He was then for some years employed on canal work, and when the
Indian Mutiny broke out was in charge of
Roorkee. He promptly concentrated the Europeans in the workshops, and though the native sappers deserted, his forethought prevented any loss of life. When
Delhi was invested he was appointed chief engineer in charge of the siege works. He reached Delhi on the end of July, and immediately advised
General Barnard to assault the city. Barnard died while the advice was still under consideration, and his successor,
General Reed, did not follow it. Reed in turn was succeeded by
Archdale Wilson, who found the besieging force too weak. Baird Smith advised Wilson against relaxing his hold on Delhi.
John Nicholson arrived with reinforcements from the
Punjab, and the siege train came up from Phillour. Nicholson then joined Baird Smith in persuading Wilson to make
the assault, which proved successful, on 14 September. Baird Smith was ably assisted by Captain Alexander Taylor; but Nicholson was unjust to Baird Smith in assigning to Taylor the chief credit for the siege operations. After the capture of Delhi he returned to Roorkee and to civil employment, and for a time the value of his military services was insufficiently recognized. After the Mutiny he was made
ADC to
Queen Victoria, became secretary to the government of India in the public works department, and gained well-deserved credit in the famine of 1861. But the onerous character of this work, following a wound and illness at Delhi, broke down his constitution, and he died at sea on 13 December 1861. ==Personal life==