Individual Details

William WILLIAMS MP

(12 Feb 1788 - 28 Apr 1865)

Events

Birth12 Feb 1788Tredarren, Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire
EducationAbt 1798at the school held in the parish church - Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire
OccupationAbt 1803apprentice shopkeeper - Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire
OccupationAbt 1804worker at a wholesale cotton warehouse - Bread Street, London
OccupationBy Abt 1820owner of a wholesale cotton and linen warehouse - London
MiscellaneousFrom Abt 1821 to 1830travelled extensively in the interests of his business - Russia and the United States
Miscellaneous1833became a member of the Common Council of the City of London - London
MiscellaneousFrom 1835 to 1847elected the member of parliament for Coventry - Coventry, Warwickshire
Miscellaneous10 Mar 1846made a speech calling for a government inquiry into the state of education in Wales - the House of Commons, Westminster, London
Miscellaneous1850elected the member of parliament for Lambeth - Lambeth, London
Residence186112, Park Square, Portland Place, Marylebone, London
Death28 Apr 1865after falling from his horse in Regents Park - 12, Park Square, Portland Place, Marylebone, London
Probate1 Jun 1865London
BurialKensal Green Cemetery, London

Families

FatherThomas WILLIAMS (1755 - 1826)
MotherEsther PHILLIPS (1760 - 1825)
SiblingElizabeth "Beti" WILLIAMS (1791 - 1847)

Notes

Miscellaneous

He had a good mastery of foreign languages.

Miscellaneous

As a result of the speech, a government inquiry was launched, culminating in the "Treachery of the Blue Books".

Miscellaneous

He was for many years the leading radical in the House of Commons, advocating the ballot, shorter parliaments, an extension of the franchise, and various other reforms. Although a Churchman, he believed in the separation of Church and state. He presided at the meeting held at the Freemasons’ Tavern, London, 1 December 1863, to further university education in Wales, and promised a gift of £1,000 for this purpose. He made provision for this gift in a codicil inserted into his will a few weeks before his death.

Probate

Probate was granted to David Davies of Quay Street, Carmarthen, esquire, William John Hall of Custom House Quay, London, esquire, John Propert of 6, New Cavendish Street, Portland Place, London, esquire and David Thomas of Trevoris, Carmarthenshire, gentleman. His effects were valued at under £12000 (£517,920.00 in 2005).