Benjamin Thomas Williams
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Thomas Williams (19 November 1832 – 21 March 1890) was a Welsh barrister and Liberal Party
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1882.
Williams was the eldest son of T R Williams of Narberth Pembrokeshire, and his wife Mira Thomas daughter of B R Thomas. He was educated at Glasgow University where he was senior prizeman in logic and university medalist in metaphysics. In 1859, he was called to the bar at Gray's Inn
and then went on the South Wales and Chester circuits. He was Recorder of Carmarthen from 1872 to 1878 and became a Queen's Counsel
in 1875. He was for a while editor of the Law Magazine and was a J.P.
for Pembrokeshire, chairman of the South Narbeth School Board, and member of the councils of the University of Glasgow and the University College of Wales.
In May 1878 Williams was elected at an unopposed by-election as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Carmarthen Boroughs. He was re-elected in 1880
but resigned
from Parliament in 1882 to become a County Court
judge.
Williams died at the age of 57.
Williams married Margaret John daughter of T John of Dolemain in 1857.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1882.
Williams was the eldest son of T R Williams of Narberth Pembrokeshire, and his wife Mira Thomas daughter of B R Thomas. He was educated at Glasgow University where he was senior prizeman in logic and university medalist in metaphysics. In 1859, he was called to the bar at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
and then went on the South Wales and Chester circuits. He was Recorder of Carmarthen from 1872 to 1878 and became a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1875. He was for a while editor of the Law Magazine and was a J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Pembrokeshire, chairman of the South Narbeth School Board, and member of the councils of the University of Glasgow and the University College of Wales.
In May 1878 Williams was elected at an unopposed by-election as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Carmarthen Boroughs. He was re-elected in 1880
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
but resigned
Resignation from the British House of Commons
Members of Parliament sitting in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom are technically forbidden to resign. To circumvent this prohibition, a legal fiction is used...
from Parliament in 1882 to become a County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
judge.
Williams died at the age of 57.
Williams married Margaret John daughter of T John of Dolemain in 1857.