Robert Williams (1811–1890)

Robert Williams (23 January 1811 – 7 June 1890)[1] was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.

Robert Williams
High Sheriff of Dorset
In office 1855–1855
Preceded by	Sir Henry Oglander Bt
Succeeded by	Charles James Radclyffe
Member of Parliament for Dorchester
In office 1835–1841 Serving with Henry Ashley
Preceded by	Robert Williams Sr. Henry Ashley
Succeeded by	Sir James Graham, Bt Henry Ashley
Personal details
Born	23 January 1811
Died	7 June 1890 (aged 79) Bridehead, Dorset, England
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Mary Anne Cunningham ​ ​ (m. 1847; died 1855)​ Lady Emily Leslie-Melville ​ ​ (m. 1858; his death 1890)​
Children	5, including Sir Robert Williams, Bt
Parents	Robert Williams

Early life

Williams was born on 23 January 1811. He was the eldest son of the English banker and politician Robert Williams MP and the former Frances Turner of Putney. He later inherited the Bridehead estate near Dorchester, Dorset, his father purchased around 1797.

Career

He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Dorchester at the 1835 general election,[2] and held the seat until he stepped down from the House of Commons at the 1841 general election.[2] In 1855 he was appointed Sheriff of Dorset.[3]

Personal life

He had married twice: firstly to Mary Anne Cunningham, the daughter of Rev. John William Cunningham, the Vicar of Harrow, on 7 September 1847. Before her death on 1 September 1855, they had two sons and three daughters, including:[3]

• Sir Robert Williams, 1st Baronet (1848–1943), who married Rosa Walker Simes, daughter of Nathaniel Simes.[4]
• John Arthur Williams (1849–1892).

After the death of his first wife, he married, secondly, Lady Emily Maria Leslie-Melville (1815–1896) on 18 November 1858. Lady Emily was the eldest daughter of John Leslie-Melville, 9th Earl of Leven and Harriet, Countess of Leven (a daughter of Samuel Thornton MP).[3]

Williams died at Bridehead in Dorset in 1890. His widow, Lady Emily Williams, died on 10 March 1896.

Descendants

Through his son, Sir Robert, has a grandfather of Sir Philip Williams, 2nd Baronet (1884–1958), who married Margaret Peek, daughter of Sir Cuthbert Peek, 2nd Baronet and the former Hon. Augusta Louisa Brodrick (a daughter of William Brodrick, 8th Viscount Midleton).[4]

References

1. "Historical list of MPs: constituencies beginning with D, part 2". Leigh Rayment's House of Commons pages. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
2. Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 172. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
3. Burke, Bernard. A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland (Volume 2).
4. Lundy, Darryl. "Sir Robert Williams, 1st Bt". www.thepeerage.com. The Peerage. Retrieved 28 February 2020.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Robert Williams