William Williams (Radical politician)

William Williams (12 February 1788 – 26 April 1865), was a Welsh Radical politician.

For other people named William Williams, see William Williams (disambiguation).

Portrait of William Williams
The grave of William Williams MP, Kensal Green Cemetery

Born in Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire, and having had only a basic education, Williams began working in a cotton warehouse in London and soon built up his own business. In 1833 he became a member of the Common Council of the City of London, and in 1835 was elected MP for Coventry. After losing the seat in 1847, he became MP for Lambeth in 1850.

As a result of a speech made by Williams on 10 March 1846, a government inquiry into the state of education in Wales was launched, culminating in the "Treachery of the Blue Books". In 1863 he chaired the meeting that launched the campaign for a University of Wales.

William Williams was a generous benefactor to the village of his birth, paying for the construction and furnishing of the village school in 1862.[1]

William Williams died on 26 April 1865, after falling from his horse in Hyde Park, London.[2] He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London, in a grave north-east of the main chapel, alongside his parliamentary friend Joseph Hume. A plaque is dedicated to him in the village school he founded in Llanpumsaint.

References
  1. Carmarthenshire County Council, plaque in Llanpumsaint village park
  2. Thomas, Arwyn (2004) Hanes Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire County Council Libraries and Community Learning Section
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Edward Ellice
Henry Bulwer		 Member of Parliament for Coventry
1835 – 1847
With: Edward Ellice		 Succeeded by
Edward Ellice
George James Turner
Preceded by
Charles Pearson
Charles Tennyson d'Eyncourt		 Member of Parliament for Lambeth
1850 – 1865
With: Charles Tennyson d'Eyncourt to 1852
William Arthur Wilkinson 1852–1857
William Roupell 1857–1862
Frederick Doulton from 1862		 Succeeded by
Frederick Doulton
James Clarke Lawrence
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