William Windham

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For other persons named William Windham, see William Windham (disambiguation).

William Windham (3 May 1750 – 4 June 1810) was a British Whig statesman, born of an ancient Norfolk family.

Windham was opposed to the American War. He took part in the impeachment of Warren Hastings, and was Secretary at War under William Pitt the Younger. He advocated the removal of Catholic disabilities, but was opposed to Parliamentary reform. Windham has been described by his contemporaries as the model both physically and mentally of an English gentleman, able and high-minded. However, he played a key role in Parliament during the 1790s in curtailing civil liberties and mobilizing popular sentiment against political reform.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopaedia.

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Edward Bacon Sir Harbord Harbord, Bt	Member for Norwich with Sir Harbord Harbord, Bt 1784–1786 Henry Hobart 1786–1799 John Frere 1799–1802 1784–1802	Succeeded by Robert Fellowes William Smith
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir William Young, Bt Jeremiah Crutchley	Member for St Mawes with Sir William Young, Bt 1802–1806	Succeeded by Sir John Newport, Bt Scrope Bernard
Preceded by John Willett Willett Manasseh Lopes	Member for New Romney with John Perring 1806–1807	Succeeded by The Earl of Clonmell George Ashburnham
Preceded by Thomas William Coke Jacob Henry Astley	Member for Norfolk with Thomas William Coke 1806–1807	Succeeded by Edward Coke Jacob Henry Astley
Preceded by Francis Ferrand Foljambe	Member for Higham Ferrers 1807–1810	Succeeded by Viscount Duncannon
Political offices
Preceded by William Wyndham Grenville	Chief Secretary for Ireland 1783	Succeeded by Thomas Pelham
Preceded by Sir George Yonge, Bt.	Secretary at War 1794–1801	Succeeded by Charles Philip Yorke
Preceded by The Viscount Castlereagh	War and Colonial Secretary 1806–1807	Succeeded by The Viscount Castlereagh