charles ferguson smith was born in philadelphia, pennsylvania, the son of samuel blair smith, an army surgeon and a grandson of the celebrated presbyterian minister rev. john blair smith. he graduated from the united states military academy in 1825, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2nd u.s. artillery. as he rose slowly through the ranks of the peacetime army, he returned to west point as an instructor and was appointed commandant of cadets as a first lieutenant, serving in that position from 1838 to 1843.