George Williams (philanthropist)

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]

Sir George Williams
Born(1821-10-11)11 October 1821
Dulverton, Somerset, England
Died6 November 1905(1905-11-06) (aged 84)
London, England
Resting placeSt Paul's Cathedral, England
NationalityEnglish
OccupationPhilanthropist, businessman
OrganizationYMCA
Known forFounding YMCA
Spouse(s)
Helen Jane Maunder Hitchcock
(
m. 1853)
Children7
Parent(s)
  • Amos Williams (father)
  • Ann 'Betty' Vickery (mother)
Signature
A plaque for George Williams 13-16 Russell Square, London.

He was knighted by the Queen Victoria in her 1894 Birthday Honours, and is buried in St Paul's Cathedral.

Early life and education

Williams was born on a farm in Dulverton, Somerset, England, as the youngest of seven surviving sons of Amos Williams and Elizabeth Vickery. He was baptized into the Church of England.[3] He came from several generations of farmers in Somerset, and attended Gloyn's in Tiverton, Devon until he was age 13, when he began working on his family farm.[4] As a young man, he described himself as a "careless, thoughtless, godless, swearing young fellow". For unknown reasons, his family sent him to Bridgwater to be an apprentice at Henry William Holmes' draper shop. In 1837, Williams converted from Anglicanism to Congregationalism. He went to the Zion Congregational Church and became an involved member.[5]

Works

In 1841, he went to London and worked as an apprentice at Hitchcock & Rogers, a draper's shop and became a member of the King's Weigh House Congregational Church, using his time for evangelization. After three years, in 1844, Williams was promoted to department manager. He married the owner George Hitchcock’s daughter, Helen Jane Maunder Hitchcock in 1853, and was taken into partnership at the drapers, renaming to George Hitchcock, Williams & Co. When Hitchcock died in 1863, Williams became the sole owner of the firm.

Hitchcock and Williams had 7 children, his son Albert, a solicitor would go on to marry the granddaughter of Thomas Cook. Williams nephew John Williams married the only child of his lifelong London friend, Matthew Hodder, founder of British publisher Hodder & Stoughton.[4]

When George Hitchcock died in 1863, Williams became the sole owner of the firm. In 1868, Williams offered to contribute towards the election expenses of Charles Reed (British politician).[4] When Williams died on 6 November 1905 at the Victoria and Albert Hotel, Torquay, England, he was president for societies including Band of Hope, London City Mission, Railway Mission and YWCA.

His funeral took place at St Paul's Cathedral on 14 November 1905, with 2,600 people in attendance.[4]

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.[6] 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, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), was settled on at the suggestion of Christopher W Smith, a fellow draper at Hitchcock & Rogers. It promoted Muscular Christianity. One of the earliest converts and contributors to the new association was George's employer, George Hitchcock, who was the organizations first treasurer.

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.

Sir George Williams University in Montreal, which was founded by YMCA, was named in commemoration of Williams; it was later merged into Concordia University,[7] with its former campus retaining the name Sir George Williams Campus.

Williams House in YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College, which was founded by YMCA of Hong Kong, was named in commemoration of Williams.[8]

References
  1. "The Founding of the YMCA Movement Worldwide". YMCA of Hong Kong. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  2. "YMCA and YMCA England". YMCA. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017.
  3. "YMCA Somerset Coast website". August 22, 2015. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  4. Binfield, Clyde (1994). George Williams in context: A portrait of the Founder of the YMCA. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press. p. 20.
  5. Rene Bester, YMCA Nelson, History & More, New Zealand, 2009, page 10
  6. "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 October 26, 2013.
  7. "Merger of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University". Concordia University. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  8. "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
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