Sir Hedworth Williamson, 8th Baronet

Sir Hedworth Williamson, 8th Baronet (25 March 1827, Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany – 26 August 1900, Whitburn, County Durham) was a British diplomat and Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1864 to 1874.^[1]

Williamson was the son of Sir Hedworth Williamson, 7th Baronet and his wife Hon. Anne Elizabeth Liddell, daughter of 1st Baron Ravensworth. He was educated at Eton College and at Christ Church, Oxford, later migrating to St John's College, Cambridge.^[2] He was an attache at St. Petersburgh from 1848 to 1850, and at Paris from 1850 till 1856. In 1861 he inherited the baronetcy on the death of his father. He was a Deputy Lieutenant and J.P. for Durham and Captain Commandant of the 1st Durham Volunteer Artillery for 28 years from its formation in 1860, later becoming its Honorary Colonel.^[3][4]

Williamson was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for North Durham at an unopposed by-election in 1864, and held the seat until he stepped down at the 1874 general election.^[5] He was then appointed High Sheriff of Durham for 1877.

In 1880 Williamson donated land for Roker Park in Sunderland, which was opened on 23 June 1880.^[6]

Williamson married his cousin the Hon. Elizabeth Jane Hay Liddell, daughter of the 2nd Baron Ravensworth in 1863. Their son Hedworth inherited the baronetcy.

References

1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 4)
2. "Williamson, Hedworth (WLN847H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
3. Debretts House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1870
4. Army Lists
5. Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 382. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
6. Wearside On-line - Roker Park

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir Hedworth Williamson