Constituency : Monaghan 1880-85
William was the other Liberal victor at Monaghan. He was selected because it was thought the Presbyterian electors would not vote for Charles Russell.
William was the son of a Londonderry merchant. He was a solicitor and part owner of a brewery. In 1878 he became president of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. He was a Presbyterian and a Freemason.
William was a strong supporter of the Irish Land Act of 1881. He was a champion of tenant rights.
When William's colleague John Givan resigned his seat in 1883 the Liberal candidate was destroyed by Tim Healy for the Home Rule party. William decided to switch seats to his home town of South Londonderry. However Healy followed him there in 1885 standing for both seats. William came in a distant third behind the Tory.
William was a founder of the Ulster Reform Club in 1885 to support Liberal resistance to Home Rule. It merged wit the UK Liberal Unionist party the following year.
William was involved in a group building artisan's houses in Dublin
William was president of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland from 1891 to 1894. In 1896 he was knighted.
William suffered poor health in his last years. He died in 1906 aged 81.
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