William Smeal

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

Life William Smeal was born in 1792. He and his brother James were both grocers and were active in the anti-slavery movement in Scotland. He is credited with founding the Glasgow Anti-Slavery Society, forerunner of the Glasgow Emancipation Society, in 1822. He was noted as a tea merchant, Move your cursor to identify him or click icon to enlarge

Legacy 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, and 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.