W. H. (William Henry) Van der Smissen (1844-1929) was a professor and Head of the Department of German at the University College, University of Toronto where his wife created a Scholarship for German studies. He was also the author of a number of German high school text books and collections of German poetry.

He served as a Rifleman in the Queen’s Own Rifles, No. 9 University Company while a law student at University of Toronto and he was wounded in the groin on June 2, 1866 at the Battle of Ridgeway. Later as a professor, he became Captain of the University Company.

His son, Captain William Victor Henry Van der Smissen also joined the Queen’s Own Rifles and went overseas in the First World War with the 3rd Battalion, CEF and was killed in action on June 13th, 1916.