William Smith (registrar)

William Smith (1816–1895) was a Ghanaian civil servant who worked in Freetown, Sierra Leone, as a registrar for the Mixed Commissionary Court. Due to his position and through his marriage to wealthy Freetown Creoles, Smith became a prominent figure in Sierra Leone. Smith had 14 children, including Adelaide Casely-Hayford, his most well known child. Smith was also the grandfather of Dr McCormack Easmon.

Background

William Smith was born in Cape Coast in 1816 to William Smith Sr and a Fanti princess who was the daughter of a Chief. William Smith (1795–1875) was from Yorkshire, England, and worked for the African Company. Smith grew up at Cape Coast until his father was appointed a Judge for the Mixed Commission in Sierra Leone.