Charles Williams-Wynn (1775–1850) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Williams-Wynn
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| President of the Board of Control | |
| In office 1822–1828 |
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| Monarch | George IV |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Liverpool George Canning The Viscount Goderich |
| Preceded by | Charles Bathurst |
| Succeeded by | The Viscount Melville |
| Secretary at War | |
| In office 30 November 1830 – 4 April 1831 |
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| Monarch | William IV |
| Prime Minister | The Earl Grey |
| Preceded by | Lord Francis Leveson-Gower |
| Succeeded by | Sir Henry Parnell, Bt |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | |
| In office 26 December 1834 – 8 April 1835 |
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| Monarch | William IV |
| Prime Minister | Sir Robert Peel, Bt |
| Preceded by | The Lord Holland |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Holland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 October 1775 |
| Died | 2 September 1850 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | Mary Cunliffe |
| Children | 7, including Charlotte and Charles |
| Parents | Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Baronet Charlotte Grenville |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn (born October 9, 1775 – died September 2, 1850) was an important British politician in the early to mid-1800s. He was a member of the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the King or Queen. He worked for both the Tory and Whig governments. From 1847 to 1850, he was known as the Father of the House of Commons, meaning he was the longest-serving Member of Parliament at that time.
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Early Life and Education
Charles Williams-Wynn came from a very old and important Welsh family. His father was Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Baronet. His mother, Charlotte Grenville, was the daughter of a former Prime Minister, George Grenville.
His family had a long history in politics. His great-great-grandfather, Sir William Williams, was the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1680 to 1685. Charles was also related to other powerful political figures through his mother's side.
He studied at home, then at Westminster School, and later at Christ Church, Oxford university. In 1798, he became a lawyer. While at Westminster School, he became friends with the famous poet Robert Southey, and he later helped Southey financially.
Political Career Highlights
In 1797, Charles Williams-Wynn was first elected to parliament for a place called Old Sarum. This was a "rotten borough," which meant it had very few voters but still had a Member of Parliament. He left this seat in 1799.
He then became the Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire, a region in Wales. He represented this area for an amazing 51 years!
Local Defence and Military Service
During the French Revolutionary War (a big conflict with France), Montgomeryshire needed local defense units. In 1803, Williams-Wynn helped create two groups of Yeomanry Cavalry, which were local soldiers who rode horses. He became their leader, known as a Major-Commandant.
Soon, this group grew into a larger force called the Montgomeryshire Volunteer Legion. This "Legion" included both cavalry (horse soldiers) and infantry (foot soldiers). Williams-Wynn became a Lieutenant-Colonel and led the cavalry. These units helped protect the country.
Later, the cavalry troops continued as the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. They even helped keep the peace during the Chartist riots in 1838–39, which were protests by working people. Williams-Wynn retired from leading this group in 1844 when he was 77 years old.
Government Roles and House of Commons
In 1806, Williams-Wynn became the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department. This was a junior role in the government led by his uncle, Lord Grenville. He stayed in this job for about a year.
He was very active in parliament and knew a lot about how the House of Commons worked. Because of this, he was suggested for the job of Speaker of the House of Commons in 1817, but he was not chosen.
In 1822, he joined the Privy Council and became the President of the Board of Control. This was a very important job in the government, and he was part of the cabinet (the main group of government ministers). He held this role under several Prime Ministers.
However, when the Duke of Wellington became Prime Minister in 1828, Williams-Wynn was not given a job in the new government.
Later Political Life
This led him to join the opposition. When the Whigs came to power in 1830, Williams-Wynn was appointed Secretary at War. This meant he was in charge of army finances, but he was not in the main cabinet. He only held this position for a few months.
In 1834, the Tories returned to power, and Williams-Wynn became the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Again, he was not part of the main cabinet. This government also didn't last long, and Williams-Wynn never held a government job again after April 1835.
It is said that he was offered the important job of Governor-General of India three times but turned it down. He remained a Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire until he died. From 1847 to 1850, he was the "Father of the House of Commons," being the last MP still in Parliament who had been elected in the 1700s.
Besides his political work, he was also the first president of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland from 1823 to 1841. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1827, which is a big honor for scientists and scholars.
Family Life
Charles Williams-Wynn married Mary Cunliffe in 1806. They had seven children together: two sons and five daughters.
His oldest daughter, Charlotte Williams-Wynn, became well-known for her diaries. One of his sons, also named Charles, followed in his father's footsteps and became a Member of Parliament. Charles Williams-Wynn passed away in September 1850, at the age of 74.
