Harold Herbert Williams

Who was Harold Herbert Williams?

Sir Harold Herbert Williams was an English scholar, priest, lawyer, politician, bibliophile, and expert on the works of Jonathan Swift.

Williams was the son of Rev. James Williams, an Anglican missionary in Japan. He returned to England to attend Liverpool College and Christ's College, Cambridge. He won the undergraduate Carus Prize for Greek Testament scholarship in 1901. Ordained in 1904, he held several posts before resigning as a priest in 1909.

Williams served as a captain in the Royal Army Service Corps 1914-19. In 1920 he was called to the Bar. He resided in Buntingford, Hertfordshire and served as a Justice of the Peace and chairman of the Hertfordshire County council.

Williams wrote Book Clubs & Printing Societies of Great Britain & Ireland and served as president of the Bibliographical Society 1938-44. He was made an MBE in 1951 for his work in local government and bibliography. He was elected to the British Academy and the Society of Antiquaries of London.