Edward Brydges Willyams

Edward William Brydges Willyams (1834-1916) was a Liberal MP, successively for three Cornish Constituencies Obituary in "The Times", Thursday, Oct 12, 1916] . "The Times" reports that in 1892, he was appointed High Sheriff of Cornwall ["The Times", Wednesday, Jan 27, 1892; pg. 9; Issue 33545; col F Appointment of E.B.Willyams in the Court Circular.] .

Parental family

He was born 6 November 1834, the son of Humphry Willyams (1792-1822) [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KikAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=%22Castle+Neynoe%22+brydges&source=web&ots=OUizTCq7x9&sig=r0W4ZZdgQ8H7XaiPnWQVSRvXwpA&hl=en "Burke's A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain 1838", page 38: Willyams of Carnanton, on Google Books.] ] , a Banker, Land-owner and Liberal Elector of Truro Edwin Jaggard "Cornwall politics in the age of reform] and Ellen Frances Brydges Neynoe, his wife. She was the daughter of Colonel William Brydges Neynoe of Castle Neynoe, County Sligo."The Gentleman's Magazine", July-December 1861, p334 Notice of the death of James Willyams on [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dkc5GNmpYI0C&pg=PA334&lpg=PA334&dq=%22brydges+willyams%22+parliament&source=web&ots=9U2Tdx7PK8&sig=NKL4uhw9lMDgCztB8pLdkthmzI0&hl=en Google Books] .]

His older brother, James Willyams died aged 38 in 1861

His aunt Sarah Mendez da Costa, was an heiress, who married his father's elder brother James (1772-1820) and had no children. However, when she died in 1863, she gave three quarters of her fortune to Benjamin Disraeli, a great friend of hers [ODNB article by M. G. Wiebe, ‘Willyams, Sarah Brydges (d. 1863)’, "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/39302] , accessed 26 April 2008.] .

Education

He was educated at Merton College, Oxford .

Parliamentary service

*MP for Truro and St Austell in 1857 ["The Times", Monday, Mar 16, 1857; p.12; Issue 22629; col E: "Election Intelligence: Truro", indicates that Willyams will stand and his views.] .
*MP for East Cornwall, 1868-1874.

*MP for Truro, 1880-1885.

He stood for election at St Austell in 1877, as a Liberal Unionist but was defeated by the Gladstonian candidate ["The Times", Friday, May 20, 1887; pg. 5; Issue 32077; col F: "Election Intelligence. Cornwall, St. Austell Division." -G L M'Arthur - 3,540 ;Brydges Willyams - 3329.] .

Marriages

He married twice, first to Jane, youngest daughter of Sir Trevor Wheler, Bt. on 26 June 1856 [Probably Sir Trevor Wheler, 11th Baronet (1828-1900). The marriage is reported in "The Times", Monday, Jun 30, 1856; pg. 1; Issue 22407; col A ] and then on 5 June 1882 to Emily [http://www.thepeerage.com/p18977.htm ThePeerage.Com family information for Levy.] ] , a daughter of Sir Joseph Moses Levy, the proprietor of the "Daily Telegraph", which then supported the Liberal Party . Emily Brydges Willyams died 5 February 1902

Interests

He was a keen supporter of the old Cornish sport of hurling . Racing reports in "The Times" from 1884 to 1910 show his ownership of several race-horses, during this period.

Difficulties

He was the co-respondent in a divorce in 1871/1872, having carried on an affair with Lady Jolliffe, the wife of Captain Jolliffe, MP for Wells. He did not stand at the General Election in 1874 rp|Jaggard p.183-189. ["The Times", Friday, Mar 08, 1872; pg. 11; Issue 27319; col D: "Court Of Probate And Divorce, March 7". ] .

Olive Willyams, the wife of his heir, Arthur Hugh Vivien Willyams, tried to obtain £4,000 from him, using promissory notes that he claimed were forged by her. She was committed to prison for three years and “was afterwards declared to have become insane ["The Times", Friday, Feb 04, 1910; pg. 4; Issue 39187; col A: "The Assizes. Western Circuit., Claim on Promissory Notes." ] ["The Times", Saturday, Oct 01, 1910; pg. 3; Issue 39392; col A: "Charge Of Forgery". ] .

Death

He died on Tuesday, 10 October 1916, at his seat, Carnanton, St Columb Major.

References

Main sources

*Obituary of Edward Brydges Willyams in "The Times", Thursday, Oct 12, 1916; pg. 11; Issue 41296; column E.

*Edwin Jaggard "Cornwall politics in the age of reform 1790-1855", Royal Historical Society/Boydell Press, (1999), ISBN 0-86193-243-9, Chapter 6-8.

Notes