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Osborne Smith

1876 – 1952

Indian banker

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About Osborne Smith

Lived 1876 – 1952 (aged 75). Osborne Smith was an Indian banker.

Sir Osborne Arkell Smith, KCSI, KCIE (26 December 1876 – 30 August 1952) was an Australian banker and the first Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, a post he held from 1 April 1935 to 30 June 1937.

Biography Smith was a professional banker who served for 20 years with the Bank of New South Wales and 10 years with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He then came to India in 1926 as Managing Governor of the Imperial Bank of India. He was knighted in March 1929, and was invested with his knighthood by the Governor-General of India, Lord Irwin, at the new Viceroy's House in New Delhi on 27 February 1930. Smith was further appointed a KCIE in the 1932 New Year Honours list and appointed a KCSI in February 1937.

His stewardship of the Imperial Bank won him recognition in banking circles in India. Since his outlook on policy issues like the exchange rates and interest rates differed with that of the Government, he resigned before the completion of his term of office.

Sir Osborne did not sign any Indian rupee notes during his tenure.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Positions held
Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
Awards
Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire; Knight Bachelor
Also known as
Sir Osborne Arkell Smith

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Osborne Smith's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Osborne Smith?

Indian banker (1876–1952)

When was Osborne Smith born?

Osborne Smith was born on 26 December 1876.

When did Osborne Smith die?

Osborne Smith died on 30 August 1952.

What was Osborne Smith's occupation?

Osborne Smith was a banker.

What nationality was Osborne Smith?

Osborne Smith was Indian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Osborne Smith

· Wikidata: Q7105809

· DBpedia: Osborne Smith

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Osborne Smith. https://biography.guide/osborne-smith/

MLA: "Osborne Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/osborne-smith/.

Chicago: "Osborne Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/osborne-smith/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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