Constituency : Lambeth 1868-85
William and the returning James Lawrence replaced Frederick Doulton and Thomas Hughes at Lambeth.
William was born in Donrgal the son of a Methodist minister in Londonderry. He started out as a draper's apprentice but eventually went into business himself. In 1841 his brother went to Australia helping William establish a number of trading links there. In 1857 he relocated his business to London. He had interests in banking and insurance. He was originally a Conservative but considered Derby's Irish views "anti-Protestant" and admired Palmerston. He stood unsuccessfully for Pontefract in 1865. He travelled to the USA. He was teetotal. He supported equalization of the poor rates.
William advocated disestablishment in both Ireland and England because he felt it would strengthen Protestantism. In Ireland he thought it would strengthen the position of the Ulster Protestants and aid the conversion of Ireland from Catholicism. He described Methodism as " a breakwater against Popery, Puseyism and infidelity".
William became an alderman in 1872 and Lord Mayor of London in 1880. He helped found the London Chamber of Commerce in 1881.He was knighted in 1882.
William's parliamentary interventions were mainly on imperial questions. He pressed for the annexation of Fiji which would help his business interests in the Pacific as well as missionaries working on the island. He was noted for a rather fumbling manner when he spoke.
William supported Gladstone over the Eastern Question. He voted against payment for MPs.
Lambeth was scrapped in 1885. William stood as an independent Liberal candidate which helped the Conservatives take the seat.
William was involved in the Aborigines Protection Society and the City of London Committee for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act.
He died in 1887 aged 78.
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