Arthur Osmond Williams, Vanity Fair, 1909-12-01

Sir Arthur Osmond Wynn Williams JP DL (17 March 1849 – 28 January 1927) was a Welsh

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

politician.

Early life

He was born at

Llanfihangel-y-Traethau Llanfihangel-y-traethau ("St. Michael's on the Beaches") was a parish in Ardudwy, Gwynedd, north-west Wales centred on a church of the same name in the village of Ynys. The original parish church was built in the 12th century on a tidal island. La ...

, Merionethshire, Wales on 17 March 1849. He was the eldest surviving son of Anne Louisa ( née Loveday) Williams and David Williams, M.P. for Merioneth from 1868 to 1869. Among his siblings was brother Dr. Leonard Williams, the prominent physician and writer, and sister Alice Williams, the painter and welfare worker. Williams was educated at Eton.

Career

He was elected as

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

M.P. for

Merioneth , HQ= Dolgellau , Government= Merionethshire County Council (1889-1974) , Origin= , Status= , Start= 1284 , End= , Code= MER , CodeName= ...

at the 1900 general election and held the seat until 1910. Williams served as Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Caernarvonshire, Chairman of

Quarter Sessions The courts of quarter sessions or quarter sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the Kingdom of England from 1388 (extending also to Wales following the Laws in Wales Act 1535). They were also established in ...

for Merioneth, and constable of

Harlech Castle Harlech Castle ( cy, Castell Harlech; ) in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales, is a Grade I listed medieval fortification built onto a rocky knoll close to the Irish Sea. It was built by Edward I during his invasion of Wales between 1282 and 1289 at t ...

. In 1909, he was created a

baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14t ...

Castell Deudraeth Castell Deudraeth is a former manor house approximately 2 km NE of Portmeirion in Gwynedd, North Wales. History The name is taken from a former late 12th century castle, now lost. The current house, which possibly dates from the 18th centu ...

and Borthwen, and from 22 March 1909 to 28 January 1927, he served as

Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire. After 1762, all Lord Lieutenants were also Custos Rotulorum of Merionethshire. The office was abolished on 31 March 1974, and the area is now covered by the Lord Lieutena ...

Personal life

On 3 August 1880, he married Frances Evelyn Greaves (1855–1926) in

Lillington, Warwickshire Lillington is a suburb of Leamington Spa, in the civil parish of Royal Leamington Spa, in the Warwick District in the county of Warwickshire, England. Historically a village which existed before the time of the ''Domesday Book'' (1086), it was i ...

. She was a daughter of John Whitehead Greaves and Ellen (née Stedman) Greaves. Together, they were the parents of six children, including: * David Osmond Deudraeth Williams (1882–1882), who died in infancy. * Capt Osmond Trahairn Deudraeth Williams (1883–1915), who married Lady Gladys Margaret Finch-Hatton (1882–1964), the only daughter of

Henry Finch-Hatton, 13th Earl of Winchilsea Henry Stormont Finch-Hatton, 13th Earl of Winchilsea and 8th Earl of Nottingham (3 November 1852 – 14 August 1927) was an English peer. Early life He was the third son of George Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea (1791–1858) and his thir ...

and Annie Jane Codrington (eldest daughter of Admiral of the Fleet Sir

Henry Codrington Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry John Codrington KCB (17 October 1808 – 4 August 1877) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer, he saw action during the Greek War of Independence and was present at the Battle of Navarino. He later undertoo ...

). He served in the South African War and was killed in action in the

Great War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

during the

Battle of Loos The Battle of Loos took place from 1915 in France on the Western Front, during the First World War. It was the biggest British attack of 1915, the first time that the British used poison gas and the first mass engagement of New Army units. Th ...

. * Evelyn Oliven Williams (1884–1960), who married Maj. Gen. Sir

Nevill Smyth Major General Sir Nevill Maskelyne Smyth, (14 August 1868 – 21 July 1941) was a senior officer in the British Army and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British a ...

. * Lawrence Trevor Greaves Williams (1885–1930), who died unmarried. * Annie Salizma Loveday Williams (b. 1891) * Ellen Dolga Dormie Williams (b. 1891), who married Capt. Robert Gordon Beazley, brother of Hugh Loveday Beazley. Lady Williams died on 10 August 1926. Sir Osmond died in Australia on 28 January 1927. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his grandson, Michael Osmond Williams, 2nd Baronet (1914–2012), who married Benitha Mary Booker, daughter of George Henry Booker.

References

External links

*
Family tree information

Sir (Arthur) Osmond Williams, 1st Bt (1849-1927), Landowner and politician
at the National Portrait Gallery, London. {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Osmond, Sir, 1st Baronet 1849 births 1927 deaths Knights Bachelor Liberal Party (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies Deputy Lieutenants of Caernarvonshire Lord-Lieutenants of Merionethshire Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom UK MPs 1900–1906 UK MPs 1906–1910