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Sir Hugh Williams, 8th Baronet (1718 – 19 August 1794), was a British Army officer and landowner in Wales, who sat in the House of Commons between 1768 and 1794.

Early life

Born in 1718, the son of Colonel Griffith Williams of Arianws, near Llangelynnin, Caernarvonshire and, his wife, Mary, daughter of Robert Williams, he was commissioned into the British Army in 1739.

Promoted Captain in the 34th Foot in 1744, he succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his cousin Sir Robert Williams, 7th Baronet, in November 1745.

Career

In 1756 Sir Hugh was a Major in the 6th Foot at Menorca when the garrison was attacked in that year. In 1759 Williams was serving in a Volunteer Battalion of the 85th Foot.

Correspondence indicates that Sir Hugh was becoming involved in politics in Beaumaris, partly in the interest of his stepson Thomas Bulkeley, but was hindered by the secrecy of his marriage (due to his father-in-law's disapproval of Williams).

In the course of these dealings, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 53rd Foot in 1761 and appointed Constable of Beaumaris Castle in July 1761. However, his regiment being stationed at Gibraltar, Williams was ordered to return to military duties on the European continent. Williams disliked the climate and requested to be transferred to a regiment at home. As this was refused Sir Hugh retired from the Army on half-pay in December 1764 to take care of affairs at Beaumaris.

Political career

In 1768 Williams was elected Member of Parliament for Beaumaris but made little contribution. His stepson Thomas Bulkeley joined him in Parliament in 1774 and was encouraging him to take a greater interest. However he found parliamentary business tiresome and stood down in 1780.

Returned as MP for Beaumaris at a by-election in 1785 Williams retained the seat until his death on 19 August 1794.

Personal life

Sir Hugh married Emma Bridget (née Rowlands), dowager Viscountess Bulkeley, widow of James Bulkeley, 6th Viscount Bulkeley on 28 June 1760. She was the only daughter and heiress of Thomas Rowlands of Caerau, Anglesey, but as her father disapproved of Williams, the marriage was kept secret.

Sir Hugh and Lady Williams (aka Bulkeley) had two sons and two daughters, including:

• Sir Robert Williams, 9th Baronet (1764–1830), who married Anne (died 1837), daughter of the Rev. Edward Lewis Hughes, in 1799.

Sir Hugh died on 19 August 1794, being succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son Robert.

References

1. www.biography.wales
2. Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003.
3. ^ "WILLIAMS, Sir Hugh, 8th Bt. (1718-94), of Nant, Caern". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
4. ^ "WILLIAMS, Sir HUGH (1718 - 1794), soldier and Member of Parliament". biography.wales. Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
5. G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume II, page 413.
6. www.kinmel-estate.co.uk
7. Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.

Sources

• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets

• 1710s births
• 1794 deaths
• King's Shropshire Light Infantry officers
• British MPs 1768–1774
• British MPs 1774–1780
• British MPs 1784–1790
• Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Beaumaris
• Baronets in the Baronetage of England
• 18th-century Welsh landowners