William Smeal

William Smeal (1792–1877) was a grocer and an abolitionist Quaker from Glasgow.

William Smeal was born in 1792. William and his brother James were both grocers and interested in anti-slavery in Scotland. William is credited with founding the Glasgow Emancipation Society in 1822. William is also noted as a tea merchant. His daughter Jane Smeal was also a leading abolitionist.

Smeal attended the week-long World Anti-Slavery conference in 1840. He was captured in a portrait with other Quakers like Josiah Forster, businessmen like Tapper Cadbury and Samuel Fox, bankers such as George Head Head and other prominent abolitionists from a number of countries including America, South Africa and Jamaica. The meeting had been organised by Joseph Sturge from Birmingham.

Smeal is on the right at the back in this painting which is of the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention. Move your cursor to identify him or click icon to enlarge

William Smeal's family were unusual in Scotland for being Quakers. In 1851 a census found that there were fewer than 400 practising Quakers in Scotland.

Smeal died in 1877. His obituary recorded his interests in opposing injustice throughout his life. He opposed the corn laws, alcohol, stamp duties, capital punishment, war and slavery. He has been considered a model of a Quaker's contribution to public life. Smeal's sister Jane Smeal was a leader of the anti-slavery movement and her step daughter Eliza Wigham was a noted campaigner for abolitionism and women's rights.