William Smith (surveyor) facts for kids

William Smith was an English surveyor who worked for the Royal African Company (RAC) in 1726. His job was to check on the company's castles in West Africa. The RAC sent him because they heard their castles were falling apart and didn't have enough staff.

After his trip, Smith wrote a book called A new voyage to Guinea. It was published after he died, in 1744. A second edition came out in 1745. In his book, Smith described many places in West Africa, including Fort Tantumquery and Fort Winneba.

Who Was William Smith?

William Smith was an English surveyor. A surveyor is someone who measures and maps land. In 1726, he was hired by a company called the Royal African Company. This company was involved in trade in West Africa.

Why Did Smith Go to West Africa?

The Royal African Company had several castles along the coast of West Africa. These castles were important for their trading activities. However, the company received reports that their castles were not in good condition. They also heard that there were not enough people working there. So, they sent William Smith to check on these problems and report back.

Smith's Journey and Book

William Smith traveled to West Africa to survey the castles. He carefully observed the places he visited.

What Did Smith Write About?

After his journey, Smith wrote a book called A new voyage to Guinea. This book was published in 1744, after he had passed away. It shared details about the places he saw and the people he met. For example, he wrote about Fort Tantumquery and Fort Winneba, which were two of the RAC's castles.

What Happened After Smith's Trip?

When William Smith returned to London in September 1727, he gave a report to the Royal African Company.

Why Were the Castles Expensive?

Smith's report showed that the castles were very expensive to keep up. By 1731, the costs were about £13,500. This was a lot of money at the time. The Royal African Company found it hard to pay for the maintenance of these buildings.

How Did the Government Help?

Because of the high costs, the British Parliament decided to help. In 1730, they voted to give the Royal African Company £10,000 every year. This money was meant to help maintain the castles properly.

As historian Robert W. Harms explained, this yearly payment meant that the British government started to take financial responsibility for the RAC's trading posts along the Gold Coast. This was a big step, as it showed the government's growing involvement in these overseas activities.