WILLIAMS, BENJAMIN THOMAS (1832 - 1890), barrister and educationist

Born 19 November 1832, eldest son of Thomas Rayson Williams, Independent minister, Merryvale, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, and Mira, his wife. From 1846 to 1851 he was a student at the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, where he adopted the Unitarian faith. Proceeding as a Dr. Williams scholar to Glasgow University in 1851, he graduated B.A. in 1853 and M.A. in 1854, and was also senior logic prizeman and silver medallist in metaphysics. He officiated as supply for a short while at Leeds and Plymouth, but entered Gray's Inn 7 April 1856, and was called to the Bar 26 January 1859. He joined the South Wales Circuit and became its leader, was admitted a barrister of the Middle Temple 22 April 1875, and was appointed Queen's Counsel 25 June 1875. Elected recorder of Carmarthen in October 1872, he resigned this office in May 1878 when he was elected Member of Parliament for Carmarthen boroughs; he sat for this constituency until his appointment as judge of county courts for circuit number 30 (part of the counties of Glamorgan and Brecon), 13 December 1881. He retired from the bench in June 1885 because of ill-health. He was also justice of the peace for the counties of Brecon, Glamorgan, and Pembroke, council-member of the University Colleges of Aberystwyth and Cardiff, and one of the two honorary secretaries of Aberystwyth College till he resigned in May 1885. For some time he edited The Law Magazine and The Commercial Compendium. His publications include The Desirableness of a University for Wales, 1853; Arthur Vaughan, a novel, 1856, a pamphlet on the Jamaica riots, 1866; and a biography of Thomas Stephens prefixed to the second edition of The Literature of the Kymry, 1876. In 1857, he married Margaret, only daughter of T. John, of Dole-main. He died 21 March 1890.

Author

• Hywel David Emanuel, (1921 - 1970)

Sources

• T. R. Roberts, Eminent Welshmen: a short biographical dictionary of Welshmen... from the earliest times to the present (1908)
• E. Pan Jones, Oriel Coleg Presbyteraidd, Caerfyrddin: yn cynwys hanes yr holl fyfyrwyr fu yn y coleg o 1796 hyd 1899 (Merthyr Tydfil 1909), 68-9
• W. R. Williams, The parliamentary history of the principality of Wales, from the earliest times to the present day, 1541-1895 (Brecknock 1895), 57
• Foster, Men-at-the-Bar: A biographical hand-list of the members of the various inns of court including her Majesty's Judges, etc (1881), 507
• Yr Ymofynnydd, 1878, 98
• Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru, iii, 142
• H. Blackwell, NLW MS 9276A: A Dictionary of Welsh Biography (237)
• Walter J. Evans, NLW MS 10330B: Carmarthen Presbyterian College roll of students (228-9)

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Benjamin Thomas Williams

Additional Links

• VIAF: 58117040
• Wikidata: Q4889295

Published date: 1959

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