John Merlin Powis Smith (28 December 1866 โ November 1932) was an English-born, American orientalist and biblical scholar. Smith was born in London, son of William Martin and Anne Powis Smith. He was orphaned at age five and thereafter raised by his aunt in Herefordshire and Devonshire. After finishing school, Smith passed an examination for entrance to Cambridge, but was unable to secure funding for his studies and migrated to America in 1883. On 19 September 1899, Smith married Catherine McKlveen in Chariton, Iowa. Smith also served as a deacon at Hyde Park Baptist Church.