Peter William Cassey

Peter William Cassey
Peter Williams Cassey, c. 1863
Born(1831-10-13)October 13, 1831
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 16, 1917(1917-04-16) (aged 85)
St. Augustine, Florida, U.S.
Other namesPeter Williams Cassey
Occupation(s)School founder, Episcopal priest and deacon, educator, activist
Known forThe first African-American secondary school in California
Notable workPhoenixonian Institute
SpouseAnna Besent Cassey (married ?–1875; death)
Parents

Rev. Peter William Cassey (1831–1917) was an African-American 19th-century school founder, deacon, minister, educator, abolitionist, and political activist. He was a pioneer in Santa Clara County. Cassey founded the first African American secondary school in the state of California, the Phoenixonian Institute. Cassey also worked as a prominent barber and co-owned a shaving saloon in San Francisco; and had worked as Methodist clergy in North Carolina and Florida. His name was sometimes written as Peter Williams Cassey.