Fenwick Williams

General Sir William Fenwick Williams, 1st Baronet of Kars GCB (4 December 1800 – 26 July 1883) was a Nova Scotian and renowned military leader for the British during the Victorian era.

Sir Fenwick Williams Bt, GCB
William Fenwick Williams with sword given by Nova Scotia House of Assembly by William Gush, Province House (Nova Scotia)[1] (sword is displayed at University of King's College Library, Halifax)
Born	4 December 1800 Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Died	26 July 1883 (aged 82) London, United Kingdom
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1825–1883
Rank	General
Commands held	Commander-in-Chief, North America
Battles/wars	Crimean War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
1st Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
In office 8 November 1865 – 18 October 1867
Monarch	Victoria
Governor General	The Viscount Monck
Premier	Charles Tupper Hiram Blanchard
Preceded by	Charles Hastings Doyle
Succeeded by	Charles Hastings Doyle

Williams is remembered for his gallant defence of the town of Kars during the Crimean War. He with other British officers inspired the poorly equipped Turkish soldiers to repel Russian attacks by General Murav’ev on the besieged town for three months causing 6,000 Russian casualties. They were forced to surrender due to starvation, disease and shortage of ammunition. However, they surrendered on their own terms, with the officers being allowed to retain their swords. Williams was imprisoned at Ryazan but he was treated very well and released at the end of the Crimean War in 1856. Before returning home he was introduced to Czar Alexander II.

Many other honours were bestowed upon Williams and it was particularly fitting that in 1865–7, he was appointed the first Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, where he had been born at the turn of the 19th century.

Early life

He was born in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, the second son of Commissary-General Thomas Williams, barrack-master at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was, however, widely rumoured to be the natural son of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn; this would make him Queen Victoria's half-brother. Williams never denied this, but it is not thought to be true.[2]

Career

Williams was educated at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich.[2] He entered the Royal Artillery as second lieutenant in 1825. His services were lent to Turkey in 1841, and he was employed as a captain in the arsenal at Constantinople. He was British commissioner in the conferences preceding the treaty of Erzurum in 1847, and again in the settlement of the Ottoman-Iranian boundary in 1848.[3] He was appointed CB in 1852.[2]

Crimean War

William Williams, 1853

Promoted colonel, he was British commissioner with the Turkish army in Anatolia in the Crimean War (Russian War) of 1854–56, and, having been made a pasha (general/governor/lord) with the degree of ferik (major-general), he commanded the Turkish troops at the defence of the town of Kars during the Crimean War.[3] He with other British officers inspired the poorly equipped Turkish soldiers to repel Russian attacks by General Murav’ev on the besieged town for three months causing 6,000 Russian casualties.[2] They were forced to surrender due to starvation, disease and shortage of ammunition. However, they surrendered on their own terms, with the officers being allowed to retain their swords. Williams was imprisoned at Ryazan but he was treated very well and released at the end of the Crimean War in 1856. Before returning home he was introduced to Czar Alexander II.[2]

Williams had put up such an honourable defence of the city that Murav’ev stated: "General Williams, you have made yourself a name in history, and posterity will stand amazed at the endurance, courage and the discipline which the siege has called forth in the remains of the army."[4]

A baronetcy with pension for life, the KCB, the grand cross of the Legion of Honour and of the Order of the Medjidie, the freedom of the City of London with a sword of honour, and the honorary degree of DCL of Oxford University, were the distinctions conferred upon him.[3][2]

John Eardley Inglis Sword (top) Sir William William's sword (bottom), University of King's College, Library, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Promoted major-general in November 1855 on his return from captivity in Russia, he held the Woolwich command, and represented the borough of Calne in parliament from 1856 to 1859.[3][2] In the lead up to the American Civil War, from 1859 to 1864, he held the position of Commander-in-Chief, North America, and was responsible for preparations for war with the United States in the case that relations broke down. The most severe strain in relations occurring during the Trent Affair.[2] He was promoted to lieutenant-general and appointed colonel-commandant Royal Artillery in 1864.

Governorships

Plaque honouring Sir William Fenwick Williams, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

He held the governorship of Nova Scotia 1865–1867. Post Canadian Confederation in 1867, Williams was reappointed as the first Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and the governorship of Gibraltar from September 1870 to 1876. He was advanced to GCB in 1871, and Constable of the Tower of London in 1881.[2]

Later life

Williams' birthplace, 62 Chapel Street, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

He died in a hotel in Pall Mall on 26 July 1883 and he was buried in Brompton Cemetery.[2] The portrait by William Gush was painted for the Parliament House, Halifax, Nova Scotia and hangs to this day in Province House, Halifax.

Legacy

• namesake of Karsdale, Nova Scotia
• The village of Port Williams, Nova Scotia is named in his honour.
• The village of Kars, Ontario
• Kars Street, Port Williams, Nova Scotia
• Fenwick Street, Halifax
• Fenwick Tower (Halifax)
• Plaque to honour birthplace, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

See also

• Military history of Nova Scotia

Notes

1. William's sword
2. Waite, P.B. (1982). "Williams, Sir William Fenwick". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. XI (1881–1890) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
3.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Williams, Sir William Fenwick". Encyclopædia Britannica. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 683.
4. Alex Troubetzkoy. The Crimean War - The Causes and Consequences of a Medieval Conflict Fought in a Modern Age. Constable & Robinson Ltd, London. 2006. pp. 298.

References

• Vetch, Robert Hamilton (1900). "Williams, William Fenwick" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 61. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• Vetch, R. H.; Matthew, H. C. G. "Williams, Sir William Fenwick, baronet (1800–1883)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29561. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir William Williams