Robert Williams (1767–1847)

Robert Williams (11 February 1767 – 10 March 1847) was an English banker and politician.[1] He purchased the Bridehead estate near Dorchester, Dorset, around 1797.[2] It comprised the manor of Littlebredy, Bridehead being a name fabricated by Williams,[3] and in later years became the main family residence.

He was elected an alderman (1796–1801) and sheriff of London for 1797–8. He was prime warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company in 1810–11, director of the Hope Assurance Company in 1820 and chairman of the company from 1826 to 1841. During the time of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, he served as an officer in the Cornhill Volunteers, from Captain in 1797, to Lieutenant Colonel commandant in 1799, and later served in the London and Westminster Light Horse from 1803 to 1807.[4]

Williams was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wootton Bassett from 1802 to 1807. On 17 March 1808 he was elected MP for Grampound after the previous election had been declared void on 7 March 1808. However he and John Teed were unseated on petition on 10 May 1808 in favour of George Augustus Frederick Cochrane the previous member and William Holmes. Williams was then elected MP for Kilkenny City from 1809 to 1812, and for Dorchester from 1812 to 1835[4]

He married Frances Turner of Putney. His eldest son was Robert Williams (1811–1890).[5]

References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
John Denison
Edward Clarke
Member of Parliament for Wootton Bassett
18021807
With: Henry St John to December 1802
Peter William Baker December 1802–1806
Robert Knight from 1806
Succeeded by
Sir John Murray
John Cheesment
Preceded by
Charles Harward Butler
Member of Parliament for Kilkenny City
18091812
Succeeded by
Overington Blunden
Preceded by
Andrew Cochrane-Johnstone
George Cochrane
Member of Parliament for Grampound
March 1808 – May 1808
With: John Teed
Succeeded by
William Holmes
George Cochrane
Preceded by
Robert Williams
Charles Henry Bouverie
Member of Parliament for Dorchester
18121835
With: Charles Henry Bouverie to Dec 1812
William à Court Dec 1812–1814
Samuel Shepherd 1814–1819
Charles Warren 1819–1826
William Ashley-Cooper 1826–1830
Henry Sturt 1830
Lord Ashley 1830–1831
Henry Ashley from 1831
Succeeded by
Robert Williams
Henry Ashley


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.