Leopold Smit received his education at the conservatory of Amsterdam where he studied modulation. He was considered one of the most talented students of Sem Dresden. Leopold Smit was one of the first to receive his diploma cum laude. On 28 June 1925 his 'Silhouetten' was performed by the Concertgebouworkest of Amsterdam. In 1929 and 1934 other pieces by Smit were played.
From 1927 untill 1936 Leopold Smit lived in Paris where he came in contact with the Groupe des Six, among them composers as Darius Milhaud, Arthur Honneger and Francis Poulenc. Although he lived in Paris, Leopold Smit visited Amsterdam regularly.
In 1933 Leopold Smit married Engeline de Vries. In 1937 he settled in Amsterdam with her. During the war Leopold Smit taught music. In 1943 he completed his last work, a sonata for flute and piano.
Addition of a visitor of the website
More information about Leopold Smit is available in his biography:
J.Vis, Silhouetten: de componist Leo Smit 1900-1943 (Amsterdam 1999) and on the website of the Leo Smit Foundation. Both biography and website are only in Dutch.