George Williams (philanthropist)
Dulverton, Somerset, England | |
---|---|
Died | 6 November 1905 London, England | (aged 84)
Resting place | St Paul's Cathedral, England |
Nationality | English |
Occupation(s) | Philanthropist, businessman |
Organisation | YMCA |
Known for | Founding YMCA |
Spouse |
Helen Jane Maunder Hitchcock
(m. 1853) |
Children | 7 |
Parents |
|
Signature | |
Sir George Williams (11 October 1821 – 6 November 1905) was an English philanthropist, businessman and founder of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA).[1] The oldest and largest youth charity in the world, its aim is to support young people to belong, contribute and thrive in their communities.[2]
Williams was knighted by Queen Victoria in her 1894 Birthday Honours. He died in 1905 and is buried in St Paul's Cathedral.
Early life and education
Williams was born on a farm in
Works
In 1841, he went to
Hitchcock and Williams had 7 children, his son Albert, a solicitor would go on to marry the granddaughter of Thomas Cook. Williams's nephew John Williams married the only child of his lifelong London friend, Matthew Hodder, founder of British publisher Hodder & Stoughton.[4]
In 1868, Williams offered to contribute towards the election expenses of
.His funeral took place at St Paul's Cathedral[6] on 14 November 1905, with 2,600 people in attendance[4] and is commemorated with a bust atop his family vault at Highgate Cemetery (west).
Founding of YMCA
Appalled by the terrible conditions in London for young working men, on 6 June 1844 Williams gathered a group of 11 fellow drapers in the living quarters of Hitchcock & Rogers to create a place that would not tempt young men into sin.[7] They were James Smith (from W D Owen drapers), Christopher. W Smith, Norton Smith, Edward Valentine, Edward Beaumont, M Glasson, William Creese, Francis John Crockett, E Rogers, John Harvey and John C Symons.
The name,
Honours
Williams was knighted by Queen Victoria in her 1894 Birthday Honours, YMCA's silver jubilee year, as well as receiving the Freedom of the City of London.[4] After his death in 1905, he was commemorated by a stained-glass window in the nave of Westminster Abbey. Sir George Williams is buried in St Paul's Cathedral.
Williams House in YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College, which was founded by YMCA of Hong Kong, was named in commemoration of Williams.[9]
References
- ^ "The Founding of the YMCA Movement Worldwide". YMCA of Hong Kong. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "YMCA and YMCA England". YMCA. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017.
- ^ "YMCA Somerset Coast website". 22 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Binfield, Clyde (1994). George Williams in context: A portrait of the Founder of the YMCA. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press. p. 20.
- ^ Rene Bester, YMCA Nelson, History & More, New Zealand, 2009, page 10
- Sinclair, W.p. 472: London; Chapman & Hall, Ltd; 1909.
- ^ "My Dear Home, I Love You, You're a House for Each of Us and Home for All of Us". World Digital Library. 1918. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Merger of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University". Concordia University. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- ^ "STUDENT LEADER GROUPS". YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
Sources
- Binfield, Clyde George Williams and the Y.M.C.A.: a Study in Victorian Social Attitudes 1973 London, Heinemann ISBN 0-434-07090-4