Charles Smith is thought to have been a native of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. He owned an apothecary (chemist) shop there. He completed his medical degree in Trinity College Dublin in 1738.
He was a pioneer of Irish topography, which is the detailed mapping and charting of the features of a locality. He wrote histories of Waterford (1746), Cork (1750) and Kerry (1756). He is also thought to have been the author of a History of Co. Down (1744), which was the first known history of an Irish county to be published.
His county histories were attractively illustrated with engraved views and maps. His history of Co. Waterford is an important work. It contains engraved representations of the features of Dungarvan, Waterford city and Lismore. Smith died in Bristol in 1762.