Sir John Williams, 1st Baronet Williams of the City of London
Encyclopedia
Sir John Williams, 1st Baronet, GCVO
(November 6, 1840
– May 24, 1926
), was a Welsh
physician, who attended Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
and was raised to the baronetcy
by her in 1894. He is remembered chiefly for his contribution to the collection of the National Library of Wales
. He resided for part of his life at Plas Llansteffan, a house he acquired by lease.
, the son of a Welsh Congregational
minister. He went to school in Swansea
, then to the University of Glasgow
, and finally to University College Hospital, London
, to complete his medical studies. In 1872 he married Mary Hughes, but they had no children. In 1886, he became a private doctor to the royal family. As well as his career as an obstetric
surgeon in London, he helped set up a Welsh hospital in South Africa
during the Boer War
, and was involved in the campaign against tuberculosis
in his native country.
, and in 1898, influenced by the palaeographer John Gwenogvryn Evans
, he acquired the Peniarth collection of manuscripts. These were donated to the new National Library of Wales
when it was built at Aberystwyth
. In 1907 he was appointed the first President of the National Library, and two years later he came to live at Aberystwyth. In 1913 he became President of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (now Aberystwyth University). On his death, he bequeathed the remainder of his books, plus a large sum of money, to the National Library.
in a 2005 book, Uncle Jack, written by one of the surgeon's descendants, Tony Williams, and co-authored by Humphrey Price. The authors claim that the victims knew the doctor personally and that they were killed and mutilated in an attempt to research the causes of infertility. The book also claims that a badly blunted surgical knife, which belonged to Sir John Williams, was the murder weapon.
Jennifer Pegg demonstrated in two articles that the version of the notebook entry published in Uncle Jack to show that Sir John Williams had met Ripper victim Mary Ann Nichols had been altered for print and did not match the original document. The entry in the original document, housed in the National Library of Wales, was written in different handwriting from that found in the rest of the book. She further demonstrated that much of the other research in the book arguing for a link between Sir John Williams and the Ripper crimes was flawed.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(November 6, 1840
1840 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1840 to Wales and its people.-Events:*January 1 - Trial of John Frost, Zephaniah Williams and William Jones opens at Monmouth before Lord Chief Justice Tindal...
– May 24, 1926
1926 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1926 to Wales and its people.-Incumbents:*Prince of Wales - Edward, Prince of Wales, son of King George V of the United Kingdom*Princess of Wales - vacant...
), was a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
physician, who attended Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and was raised to the baronetcy
Williams Baronets
There have been twenty Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Williams, eight in the Baronetage of England, three in the Baronetage of Great Britain and nine in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Only six of the creations are extant...
by her in 1894. He is remembered chiefly for his contribution to the collection of the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
. He resided for part of his life at Plas Llansteffan, a house he acquired by lease.
Education and professional career
Williams was born in CarmarthenshireCarmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, the son of a Welsh Congregational
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
minister. He went to school in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, then to the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, and finally to University College Hospital, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, to complete his medical studies. In 1872 he married Mary Hughes, but they had no children. In 1886, he became a private doctor to the royal family. As well as his career as an obstetric
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
surgeon in London, he helped set up a Welsh hospital in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
, and was involved in the campaign against tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in his native country.
Contribution to the National Library
Sir John's leisure hours were largely spent in the acquisition of a large private libraryLibrary
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, and in 1898, influenced by the palaeographer John Gwenogvryn Evans
John Gwenogvryn Evans
Reverend John Gwenogvryn Evans was a Welsh palaeographic expert.Evans was born at Llanybydder in Carmarthenshire. He was apprenticed to a grocer, but returned to school, one of his teachers being William Thomas . He studied theology and became a Unitarian minister, but gave up his pastorate...
, he acquired the Peniarth collection of manuscripts. These were donated to the new National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
when it was built at Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
. In 1907 he was appointed the first President of the National Library, and two years later he came to live at Aberystwyth. In 1913 he became President of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (now Aberystwyth University). On his death, he bequeathed the remainder of his books, plus a large sum of money, to the National Library.
Jack the Ripper accusation
Sir John was accused of the Ripper crimesJack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
in a 2005 book, Uncle Jack, written by one of the surgeon's descendants, Tony Williams, and co-authored by Humphrey Price. The authors claim that the victims knew the doctor personally and that they were killed and mutilated in an attempt to research the causes of infertility. The book also claims that a badly blunted surgical knife, which belonged to Sir John Williams, was the murder weapon.
Jennifer Pegg demonstrated in two articles that the version of the notebook entry published in Uncle Jack to show that Sir John Williams had met Ripper victim Mary Ann Nichols had been altered for print and did not match the original document. The entry in the original document, housed in the National Library of Wales, was written in different handwriting from that found in the rest of the book. She further demonstrated that much of the other research in the book arguing for a link between Sir John Williams and the Ripper crimes was flawed.