William Windham Sr. facts for kids

A portrait of William Windham.

William Windham (born 1717, died 1761) was an English writer and landowner. He was known for his travels, his writings about nature, and his work helping to organize the local army. He was also a member of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists and thinkers.

Early Life and Exciting Travels

William Windham was born in 1717. His parents were Ashe Windham and Elizabeth Dobyns. When he was a young man, he went on a long trip around Europe called a "Grand Tour." This was a common trip for young, wealthy people at the time.

He traveled with his teacher, Benjamin Stillingfleet, starting in 1737. From 1740 to 1741, William and Benjamin lived in Geneva, Switzerland. They were part of a group of British people who enjoyed putting on plays for fun. This was quite unusual in Geneva, which was a very strict city back then.

Discovering the Alps

In June 1741, William and some friends, including Richard Pococke, went on an adventure to Chamonix in the Alps. They were among the first people to travel to this area just for fun and exploration. They climbed a mountain called Montenvers with local guides.

During their trip, they explored a large glacier and named it "Mer de Glace," which means "Sea of Ice." William and Benjamin returned to Geneva in June 1741 and then went back to England in July 1742.

Becoming a Writer and Scientist

After returning to England, William became good friends with the famous actor David Garrick. In 1744, William published a pamphlet (a small book) about his trip to the Alps. It was called Letter from an English gentleman ... giving an account of a journey to the glacieres or ice alps of Savoy.

This book, along with his skill in mathematics, helped him become a member of the Royal Society on April 26, 1744. The Royal Society is a very old and respected group that promotes science.

William married later in life. He had a daughter named Elizabeth from an earlier relationship. In 1750, he married Sarah Lukin, and they had a son, also named William Windham, in May 1750.

Helping His Country

In 1749, William's father, Ashe, passed away. William then inherited his family's large home, Felbrigg Hall. His daughter Elizabeth later married Thomas de Grey.

After inheriting Felbrigg Hall, William became very interested in the local army, called the militia. This was especially important in 1756 because of the Seven Years' War. People were worried that France might try to invade England.

William worked with Lord Townshend to help create the Norfolk Militia in 1757. In 1759, they wrote a book together called A Plan of Discipline, Composed for the use of the Militia of the County of Norfolk. This book became a very important guide for training soldiers. It was even used during the American Revolution.

Sadly, William Windham did not live to see the American Revolution. He died in 1761 from a lung disease called tuberculosis.