John Bickerton Williams

Sir John Bickerton Williams (4 March 1792 – 21 October 1855) was an English, nonconformist author and lawyer. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1837.

Life
Williams was born at Sandford Hall, at West Felton, in the United Kingdom on March 4, 1792 the son of William Williams and Hannah Bickerton. Early in his life, his parents moved to Wem in Shropshire. He received his early education at the free school in Wem. He became a member of the congregational church at Wem in the autumn of 1809. Williams began to gather a large collection of manuscripts by Phillip and Matthew Henry and other nonconformist theologians. He spent his leisure time writing.

Williams studied law and he became an apprentice on February 17, 1806 to an attorney in Wem. After a residence in Liverpool from 1811 to 1815, he was admitted an attorney on January 23, 1816. William moved to Shrewsbury and commenced a law practice.

Marriage
Williams married Elizabeth Robins on December 27, 1813. He had three sons and two daughters.

Political career
On the passing of the municipal reform bill in 1835, Williams was elected an alderman of Shrewsbury, and in November 1836 was appointed mayor. In that capacity he presented an address to the Duke of Sussex at Kimnel Park.

On July 19, 1837, at the duke's request he was knighted at St. James's Palace by Queen Victoria. He was the first to be knighted by Queen Victoria. He was elected F.S.A. in 1824, and a fellow of the American Antiquarian Society in 1838, and received the degree of LL.D. from Middleburg College, Vermont, U.S.A., in 1831.

Death
Williams retired from law practice at Shrewsbury in March 1841 and moved back to Wem. He died at Wem, on October 21, 1855. He was buried in the cemetery in Chapel Street on the 27th. His widow died at Wem on February 23, 1872, and was buried in the cemetery in Chapel Street.