Tennent Smith was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire on 05 January 1905 . His father John Smith had been a manual instructor, but died prior to him attending university. He attended the University of Glasgow from 1923-1927 , taking classes in Mathematics, Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in his first year; Mathematics, Botany and Geology in his second; Chemistry and Geology in his third, and Geology in his fourth and final year. He graduated with a BSc in July 1927 and subsequently became a teacher in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Tennent died in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, on 21 July 1977 .
From the guide to the Papers of Tennent Smith, 1905-1977, science graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1923-1927, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
