Michael Williams (MP)

For other people named Michael Williams, see Michael Williams (disambiguation).

Michael Williams (18 April 1784 – 15 June 1858) was MP for West Cornwall from 19 July 1853 until his death in June 1858.

He was the second son of John Williams "the Third" (23 September 1753 – 17 April 1841), the Cornish industrialist, of the Williams family. He bought Caerhays Castle.^[1].

Business interests

The Williams family bought the Morfa Copper Smelting Works in Swansea in 1831. Michael Williams was vested with the responsibility of the Welsh business and was appointed High Sheriff of Glamorgan for 1840.^[2]

He was a Director of the Cornwall Railway and chaired its Ordinary Meeting on 3 March 1854, whose proceedings were reported in The Times, in two advertisements on 10 March ^[3]. He was still the chair of the Company in June 1857,^[4], when a Special general Meeting was announced.

Service in Westminster

He was the only nomination as MP for West Cornwall, at a by-election, following the death of Edward William Wynne Pendarves, on 26 June 1853. Michael Williams was elected as a Liberal on 19 July 1853 ^[5]. He was re-elected, again without opposition, at the General Election of 1857 ^[6].

Death

The Times received by electric telegraph and published on 16 June, news of his death "a little after 5 o'clock" on 15 June 1858 at Trevince,^[7]. He was aged 74.

References

1. ^ Purchase of Caerhays - source: Maurice Smelt 101 Cornish Lives, Alison Hodge (2006), ISBN 0-906720-50-8. page 248: article on John Williams (1753-1841)
2. ^ Cornish Mining website (accessed 6 March 2008).
3. ^ The Times, Friday, 10 March 1854; pg. 5; Issue 21685; col A
4. ^ The Times, Tuesday, 16 June 1857; pg. 4; Issue 22708; col A.
5. ^ The Times, Monday, 11 July 1853; pg. 3; Issue 21477; col D "Election Intelligence":(Election and its expected conclusion announced).
6. ^ The Times, Saturday, 21 March 1857; pg. 12; Issue 22634; col A and The Times, Wednesday, 1 April 1857; pg. 5; Issue 22643; col E "The Elections".
7. ^ The Times, Wednesday, 16 June 1858; pg. 5; Issue 23021; col D

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Michael Williams

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Edward William Wynne Pendarves and Charles Lemon	Member of Parliament for West Cornwall 1853–1858 With: Charles Lemon to 1857 Richard Davey from 1857)	Succeeded by John St Aubyn and Richard Davey

Persondata
Name	Williams, John
Alternative names
Short description	Member of Parliament
Date of birth	18 April 1784
Place of birth
Date of death	15 June 1858
Place of death