Richard Smith managed several estates in Barbados. His job was to make the plantations profitable for the absentee owner, Sir John Foster Alleyne. Smith oversaw the labour force of enslaved men, women and children and free white workers, enforced discipline, organised the cultivation work, made the sugar, maintained equipment, looked after the animals, bought provisions and kept the accounts. Smith was unusual in being sober and hardworking and entirely trusted by his employer.

The manager's job was to run the estate for the owner. Sometimes he was in sole charge for an absentee landowner, sometimes he was working with the resident owner, taking the day to day work off the owner.

The manager was one of the white elite of the population. His duties were to oversee the enslaved labour force of 200-500, the free white workers and the cultivation work, to ensure the animals were cared for, to make the sugar, maintain the equipment, buy provisions and keep accounts. Managing the enslaved labourers would include buying new slaves, organising their work through assistants and drivers, providing supplies of food and clothing, tools and equipment, housing to the enslaved workers, organising medical care for the sick, and punishing those who had transgressed in any way. And making a profit for the owner. Few owners found a manager they could trust completely to run their estates well.

Richard Smith worked as manager for Sir John Forster Alleyne on his Barbados estates. The letters of Sir John show the high regard he had for his manager.