John Williams, 1st Baron Williams of Thame

Who was John Williams, 1st Baron Williams of Thame?

John Williams, 1st Baron Williams of Thame was Treasurer of the King's Jewels, Lord Chamberlain of England and Lord President of the Council of the Welsh Marches. He was summoned to parliament as Lord Williams of Thame on 17 February 1554.

Williams was the son of Sir John Williams of Burghfield in Berkshire and his wife, Elizabeth, the daughter and eventual heiress of Richard Moore also of Burghfield and of Preston Candover in Hampshire.

As Treasurer of the King's Jewels, Williams was heavily involved in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, during which he obtained Thame Abbey and its lands. He also had a palace at Rycote which Henry VIII and Catherine Howard visited on their honeymoon. Later, he rose in favour with Queen Mary for having declared for her party so early. Her sister, Elizabeth I, liked him because he had been kind to her during her imprisonment. He served as High Sheriff of Berkshire and Oxfordshire for 1538.

Williams gave his name to Thame School, Thame, Oxfordshire, also known as Lord Williams's School, Thame. He bequeathed a sum of money to create an establishment of learning for all comers. The school was founded in 1559.