John Farrell Easmon
Encyclopedia
Dr. John Farrell Easmon, M.R.C.S. MD
CMO
, (June 30, 1856-June 9, 1900) was a prominent Sierra Leonean Creole
doctor in the British Gold Coast who served as Chief Medical Officer during the 1890's. Easmon was the only West African to be promoted to Chief Medical Officer
and served in this role with distinction during the 1890s. In 1884, Dr. Easmon wrote a pamphlet on Blackwater fever
and was the first to coin this term.
on June 30, 1856 to Walter Richard Easmon (1824-1883) and his second wife Mary Ann McCormack. On both his paternal and maternal lineages, John Easmon was a descendant of Freetown Founding Families Nova Scotian settlers originally from the United States
. Easmon's paternal grandparents were William and Jane Easmon and they arrived in Sierra Leone from Nova Scotia
in 1792. John Easmon's mother, Mary Ann McCormack was part Irish
and part Settler, and was the daughter of John McCormack, the successful Irish trader and uncle of Dr. William MacCormac
. Johnie grew up on Little East Street and attended a Roman Catholic primary School before being enrolled alongside Isaac Easmon in the Church Missionary Society Grammar School in 1869. After serving as an apprentice to Dr. Joseph Smith, in 1876 Easmon collected his inheritance from his maternal grandfather and registered at University College London
. Easmon graduated in 1879 with a distinguished academic career and gained further qualifications in Brussels
and Ireland
.
, who offered him a position. Easmon turned the offer and returned to Freetown where he opened a practice on No. 2 East Street in Settler Town, Sierra Leone
. Many elderly Settlers sought the attention of Johnie and perhaps due to the amount of attention he received or to further his ambitions, Johnie moved to the Gold Coast
. It was there that he would establish himself as an eminent West African doctor.
. His popularity increased among native and European residents and when he applied as a colonial medical officer in Sierra Leone, the governor of the Gold Coast recommended to the colonial government that Easmon remain on the Gold Coast where he was needed.
and sister of Adelaide Casely-Hayford
in 1889. The couple had two children, McCormack Charles Farrell Easmon and Kathleen Easmon. McCormack Easmon
was also a prominent Creole
doctor. John Easmon's grandson in the Gold Coast, Charles Odamtten Easmon
became Chief Medical Officer
in newly independent Ghana
in 1964 and was Dean of the Medical School. John Easmon's half brother, Albert Whiggs Easmon
, was a successful Creole
doctor whose son Raymond Sarif Easmon
, was a doctor and poet.
MD
- Science :* Doctor of Medicine, from the Latin Medicinæ Doctor * Macular degeneration, a condition characterized by progressive thinning and atrophy of the macula area of the retina* Mahalanobis distance, a distance measure introduced by P. C...
CMO
CMO
-Engineering:*Corticosterone 18-monooxygenase, an enzyme involved in steroid hormone metabolism*Cubic Mile of Oil, a global-scale measure of energy, roughly equal to the amount of oil consumed worldwide each year-People and Groups:*Canadian Mathematical Olympiad...
, (June 30, 1856-June 9, 1900) was a prominent Sierra Leonean Creole
Sierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
doctor in the British Gold Coast who served as Chief Medical Officer during the 1890's. Easmon was the only West African to be promoted to Chief Medical Officer
Chief Medical Officer
There are four Chief Medical Officers in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments on health related matters: Her Majesty's Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government...
and served in this role with distinction during the 1890s. In 1884, Dr. Easmon wrote a pamphlet on Blackwater fever
Blackwater fever
Blackwater fever is a complication of malaria in which red blood cells burst in the bloodstream , releasing hemoglobin directly into the blood vessels and into the urine, frequently leading to kidney failure...
and was the first to coin this term.
Background
John Farrell Easmon or 'Johnie' was born in Settler Town, Sierra LeoneSettler Town, Sierra Leone
Settler Town, Sierra Leone or Settler Tong in Krio is the oldest part of Freetown, Sierra Leone and was the home of African American ex-slaves . Settler Town was established as a walled town in 1792 between Walpole and East streets...
on June 30, 1856 to Walter Richard Easmon (1824-1883) and his second wife Mary Ann McCormack. On both his paternal and maternal lineages, John Easmon was a descendant of Freetown Founding Families Nova Scotian settlers originally from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Easmon's paternal grandparents were William and Jane Easmon and they arrived in Sierra Leone from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in 1792. John Easmon's mother, Mary Ann McCormack was part Irish
Irish
Irish may refer to:*Irish cuisine* Ireland, an island in north-western Europe, on which are located:** Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom** Republic of Ireland, a sovereign state...
and part Settler, and was the daughter of John McCormack, the successful Irish trader and uncle of Dr. William MacCormac
William MacCormac
Sir William MacCormac, 1st Baronet KCB KCVO , was a British surgeon.-Early life and education:He was born at Belfast, the son of Dr Henry MacCormac....
. Johnie grew up on Little East Street and attended a Roman Catholic primary School before being enrolled alongside Isaac Easmon in the Church Missionary Society Grammar School in 1869. After serving as an apprentice to Dr. Joseph Smith, in 1876 Easmon collected his inheritance from his maternal grandfather and registered at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Easmon graduated in 1879 with a distinguished academic career and gained further qualifications in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Return to Sierra Leone
John Easmon's distinguished academic career received attention from his uncle, Sir William MacCormacWilliam MacCormac
Sir William MacCormac, 1st Baronet KCB KCVO , was a British surgeon.-Early life and education:He was born at Belfast, the son of Dr Henry MacCormac....
, who offered him a position. Easmon turned the offer and returned to Freetown where he opened a practice on No. 2 East Street in Settler Town, Sierra Leone
Settler Town, Sierra Leone
Settler Town, Sierra Leone or Settler Tong in Krio is the oldest part of Freetown, Sierra Leone and was the home of African American ex-slaves . Settler Town was established as a walled town in 1792 between Walpole and East streets...
. Many elderly Settlers sought the attention of Johnie and perhaps due to the amount of attention he received or to further his ambitions, Johnie moved to the Gold Coast
Gold Coast
-Colonization:*The Gold Coast in west Africa, which was made up of the following colonies:**Gold Coast , British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa**Brandenburger Gold Coast, former German colony...
. It was there that he would establish himself as an eminent West African doctor.
Medical Career in the Gold Coast
Johnie moved to the Gold Coast in 1880 and opened a private practice in AccraAccra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
. His popularity increased among native and European residents and when he applied as a colonial medical officer in Sierra Leone, the governor of the Gold Coast recommended to the colonial government that Easmon remain on the Gold Coast where he was needed.
Family
John Easmon married Annette Kathleen Smith, the daughter of William SmithWilliam Smith (registrar)
William Smith 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 fourteen children, including...
and sister of Adelaide Casely-Hayford
Adelaide Casely-Hayford
Adelaide Casely-Hayford, née Smith , was a Sierra Leonean Creole advocate, an activist for cultural nationalism, educator, short story writer, and feminist. She established a school for girls in 1923 to instill cultural and racial pride during the colonial years under British rule...
in 1889. The couple had two children, McCormack Charles Farrell Easmon and Kathleen Easmon. McCormack Easmon
McCormack Easmon
McCormack Charles Farrell Easmon, OBE was born in Accra in the Gold Coast where his father, John Farrell Easmon, a prominent Creole doctor, was working at the time. He was educated - for six months - at the CMS Grammar School, Freetown in Freetown and later at St. Paul's Preparatory School in...
was also a prominent Creole
Sierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
doctor. John Easmon's grandson in the Gold Coast, Charles Odamtten Easmon
Charles Odamtten Easmon
Charles Odamtten Easmon or C.O. Easmon, F.R.C.S. was a Ghanaian doctor of Sierra Leonean descent. Easmon was the first Ghanaian to qualify as a surgeon specialist and the first African dean of the University of Ghana Medical School....
became Chief Medical Officer
Chief Medical Officer
There are four Chief Medical Officers in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments on health related matters: Her Majesty's Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government...
in newly independent Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
in 1964 and was Dean of the Medical School. John Easmon's half brother, Albert Whiggs Easmon
Albert Whiggs Easmon
Alfred Whiggs Easmon was a Sierra Leonean doctor and the half brother of Dr John Farrell Easmon. Easmon was among first group of Sierra Leoneans to qualify as a medical doctor after getting a degree from Edinburgh University....
, was a successful Creole
Sierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
doctor whose son Raymond Sarif Easmon
Raymond Sarif Easmon
Raymond Sarif Easmon was a prominent Sierra Leonean doctor known for his literary work and political agitation.-Background and early life:Raymond Sarif Easmon was born to the Easmon family, a prominent medical family...
, was a doctor and poet.