Mr Thomas Smyth¹ was born in Killeen, Clonbrock, Co Galway, Ireland on 23 January 1886.

He was the son of Patrick Smyth (b. circa 1835), a farmer, and Mary Galvin (b. circa 1855 ) who had married in Caltra, Co Galway on 21 April 1877.
Growing up in a Roman Catholic household that spoke both Irish and English, Thomas had four known siblings: Margaret (b. 15 November 1877), Bridget (b. 3 December 1880), Michael (b. 4 October 1882) and Anne (b. 2 October 1888).

His mother was afflicted in the last months of her life by a cardiac irregularity and died aged 35 on 24 February 1890; his father never remarried. 

Thomas, his father and sister Bridget appeared on the 1901 census living at 4 Killeen, Clonbrock, Galway and he, aged 16, was described as a farmer's son. His sisters Bridget and Margaret later emigrated to New York and Thomas remained the sole child at the home of his father on the 1911 census, still 4 Killeen, Clonbrock and he was again described as an unmarried farmer's son.

Thomas decided to join his sisters in New York and boarded the Titanic at Queenstown as a third class passenger (ticket number 384461, which cost him £7, 15s); his passage was reportedly paid for him by his brother Patrick who expected his brother to return from America in the next few years, much wealthier than when he had left and able to repay the debt. 

Smyth is believed to have shared a cabin with two other Galway men, Thomas Kilgannon and Martin Gallagher.

Thomas Smyth died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified. 

His estate, worth £25, was administered to his father Patrick on 28 March 1913. What became of Patrick Smyth in later years is not certain although it has been said that he rallied for years to come and outlived Thomas by over two decades, dying whilst in his 90s, although this has yet to be verified.