Edward Williams (died 1721) facts for kids
Sir Edward Williams (1659–1721) was an important British politician from Gwernyfed, a place in Breconshire, Wales. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the English House of Commons and later the British House of Commons for many years, from 1697 until his death in 1721.
About Sir Edward Williams
His Early Life
Edward Williams was born in Elham, Kent, England, and was baptized on November 6, 1659. His father was Sir Thomas Williams, a well-known doctor who served as the Royal Physician to King Charles II. This meant his father was the King's personal doctor.
By 1675, Edward Williams had been given the title of knight. This was a special honor given by the King. In the same year, he married Elizabeth Williams. Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir Henry Williams of Gwernyfed. This marriage was important because it gave Edward some land and property in Breconshire, Wales. This area was the county he would later represent in Parliament for seventeen years.
Becoming a Politician
Sir Edward Williams was part of a political group called the Tories. He first became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Breconshire in 1697. An MP is someone elected by the people to represent them in Parliament, where laws are made. He won this election, but he didn't run in the next one.
After that, he served as the High Sheriff of Breconshire from 1698 to 1699. A High Sheriff was a very important local official, responsible for law and order in the county.
Sir Edward decided to run for Parliament again in 1705 and was elected once more for Breconshire. He continued to be elected without anyone running against him in the elections of 1708, 1710, 1713, and 1715. This shows he was a very popular and respected politician in his area.
His Family and Legacy
Sir Edward Williams passed away on July 28, 1721. He was buried in a place called Aberllynfi. He and his wife, Elizabeth, had four children:
- Henry Williams (who died in 1723)
- Thomas Williams (who became a Doctor of Laws)
- Edward Williams (who died in 1715)
- Sir David Williams (who died in 1740). Sir David later inherited a special family title called a baronetcy from his uncle, Sir John Williams.
