Sir Hedworth Williamson, 8th Baronet (25 March 1827, Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany – 26 August 1900, Whitburn, County Durham) was a British diplomat and Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1864 to 1874.[1]
Williamson was the son of Sir Hedworth Williamson, 7th Baronet and his wife Hon. Anne Elizabeth Liddell, daughter of 1st Baron Ravensworth. He was educated at Eton College and at Christ Church, Oxford. He was an attache at St. Petersburgh from 1848 to 1850, and at Paris from 1850 till 1856. In 1861 he inherited the baronetcy on the death of his father. He was a Deputy Lieutenant and J.P. for Durham and captain commanding the 1st Durham Artillery Volunteers.[2]
Williamson was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for North Durham at an unopposed by-election in 1864, and held the seat until he stepped down at the 1874 general election.[3] He was then appointed High Sheriff of Durham for 1877.
In 1880 Williamson donated land for Roker Park in Sunderland,, which was opened on 23 June 1880.[4]
Williamson married his cousin the Hon. Elizabeth Jane Hay Liddell, daughter of the 2nd Baron Ravensworth in 1863. Their son Hedworth inherited the baronetcy.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lord Adolphus Vane-Tempest and Robert Duncombe Shafto |
Member of Parliament for North Durham 1864 – 1874 With: Robert Duncombe Shafto to 1868 George Elliot from 1868 |
Succeeded by Isaac Lowthian Bell and Charles Mark Palmer |
| Baronetage of England | ||
| Preceded by Hedworth Williamson |
Baronet (of East Markham ) 1861–1900 |
Succeeded by Hedworth Williamson |