John Charles Williams
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Charles Williams (30 April 1861 – 29 March 1939)[1] was an English Liberal Unionist[2] politician and a noted gardener at Caerhays Castle, Cornwall, where he grew and bred rhododendrons and other plants.[3] An important group of camellia cultivars, Camellia × williamsii, was originally bred by him. He also took an interest in the development of new daffodil cultivars.[4]
He was educated at Rugby School and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.[3]
Career
In 1882 he acquired the estate of Werrington, then in Devon and since 1974 in Cornwall.[5] He was one of the largest land-owners of north Cornwall having bought more than 5,000 acres (2,000 ha), mostly in the parishes of St Columb Major, St Ervan and St Issey, in the 1880s.[6] He was elected at the 1892 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Truro, and held the seat until he stood down at the 1895 general election.[1][2] He was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1888,[3] and Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall from 1918 to 1936.[3]
