WILLIAMSON, Sir Joseph (1633-1701), of Jermyn Street, London, and Cobham Hall, Kent

Family and Education

b. 25 July 1633, 2nd s. of Joseph Williamson, vicar, of Bridekirk, Cumb. and Anne, da. of one Bowman of Brownrigg, Cumb. educ. St. Bees g.s.; Westminster; Queen’s, Oxf. 1650, BA 1654, MA 1657, fellow 1657–79, DCL 1674; travelled abroad (France, Netherlands) 1651, 1656–7; M. Temple 1664, called 1664; L. Inn 1672. m. 12 Feb. 1679, Catherine (d. 1702), da. of Lord George Stuart, 9th Seigneur d’Aubigny, suo jure Baroness Clifton and h. to her bro. Charles Stuart, 3rd Duke of Richmond, wid. of Henry O’Brien†, Ld. Ibrackan, s.p. Kntd. 24 Jan. 1672. DNB; CSP Dom. 1673, p. 459; 1679–80, p. 83; M. Temple Reg. i. 171; J. A. Marshall, ‘Sir Joseph Williamson and the development of the government intelligence system’ (Lancaster Univ. Ph.D. thesis 1991), 26; HMC 4th Rep. 516; Beaufort mss at Badminton House, Ld. Clarendon (Henry Hyde†) to [Duchess of Beaufort], 5 Nov. 1702.

Offices Held

Under-sec. of state July 1660–74; keeper of state pprs. 1661–d.; commr. prohibited goods 1663, lotteries 1665, postmaster-gen. 1667–85; clerk of PC 1672–4; plenip. to congress of Cologne 1673–4, Ryswick 1697; sec. of state (northern dept.) 1674–9; ld. of Admiralty 1674–9; PC 11 Sept. 1674–Apr. 1679, 16 Nov. 1696–d.; PC [I] 1681–5, 1694–d.; ambassador extraordinary at The Hague 1697–9. Stowe 549, f. 14; CSP Dom. 1663–4, p. 90; 1664–5, p. 438; 1671–2, p. 97; 1680–1, p. 136; 1694–5, p. 276; Marshall thesis, 97; J. C. Wedgwood’s list of PCs, Hist. of Parl.

FRS 1663, pres. 1677–80.

Asst. R. Adventurers into Africa 1664–8, 1670–2, R. African Co. 1673, 1675–7; member Clothworkers’ Co. by 1675, master 1676; asst. ?by 1685–7; member, R. Fisheries Co. 1677; asst. sons of the clergy 1678, steward 1680; gov. St. Bartholomew’s Hosp. by 1686, St. Bees Sch. 1687. T 70/75; CSP Dom. 1675–6, p. 168; T. Girton, Golden Ram, 328; Clothmakers’ Co. Chs. 51; PC 2/72/506; K. G. Davies, R. African Co. 390; Sel. Charters, 197; N. Moore, Hist. St. Bartholomew’s Hosp. ii. 343; D. R. Hainsworth, Stewards, Lords and People, 108–9.

Recorder, Thetford 1682; freeman, Rochester 1683, Dublin 1695; asst. Rochester bridge 1685–d., warden 1686, 1693, 1700; high steward, Gravesend 1686. Le Strange, Norf. Official Lists, 235; info. from Medway Area Archs.; Cal. Ancient Recs. Dublin ed. Gilbert, vi. 129; info. from Mr P. F. Cooper, Bridge Clerk, Rochester Bridge Trust; CSP Dom. 1686–7, p. 323.

MP [I] 1692–9.

Parlimentarian

WILLIAMSON, Joseph (1633-1701), of Whitehall and Cobham Hall, Kent.

Main residences: Jermyn Street, London; Cobham Hall, Kent.

Author

S.N.H.

Volume

Commons 1690-1715

Web Title

WILLIAMSON, Sir Joseph (1633-1701)

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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