John Francon Williams

John Francon Williams
Born John Francon Williams
1854
Llanllechid, Caernarvonshire, Wales
Died 1911
Leicestershire
Nationality British
Occupation Editor, Journalist, Writer, Geographer, Historian, Cartographer and Inventor
Spouse(s) Barbara Balmain Dougall
Children John B. Jr., Aeneas Francon Williams, David Dougal Williams, George Francon, Margaret Mary Ann

John Francon Williams FRGS (1854-1911) was an editor, journalist, writer, geographer, historian, cartographer and inventor. Williams was born in Llanllechid, Caernarvonshire, Wales, in 1854.

Family

In 1876, Williams married Barbara Balmain Dougall in Northampton, Lancashire, and they had five children: four sons; John B. Jr., (born 1877, Northampton),[1] Aeneas Francon Williams (born 1886, Liscard, Cheshire)[2], David Dougal Williams (born 1888, Liscard),[3] and George Francon (born 1890, Liscard) - and one daughter; Margaret Mary Ann (born 1891, Liscard.)[4] Margaret Mary Ann Williams died in December 1891 and was buried on 30 December at Massey Park.

Barbara Balmain Dougall was born in 1851 in Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland.[5] She was one of seven children (Aeneas, David, Margaret, Isabella, Ann, Mary and Barbara) to John and Ann Dougall. John Dougall was a handloom weaver and his wife Ann was a cotton winder. [6] Though most of the Dougall children entered the weaving trade, Aeneas became a teacher.

Career

Early Career

John Francon Williams worked as a journalist and editor on various newspapers and journals in Liverpool. In 1880, Williams was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.[7]

Association with George Philip & Son

Geography of America by John Francon Williams

Williams started his publishing career in Liverpool under the guidance of the renowned cartographer and map publisher George Philip. George Philip & Son published maps and educational books, and in 1881 they published Williams’ first book, A Class-Book of Modern Geography, with examination questions, notes & index. The book was written in collaboration with cartographer Professor William Hughes (geographer) F.R.G.S., and became the first publication in a successful run of works over the coming two decades by Williams for the publishing house George Philip & Son. Between 1881 and 1893, George Philip & Son published twelve English editions of A Class-Book of Modern Geography. George Philip (1800–1882) and his son George Jr. (1823–1902), ran George Philip & Son, and when George Philip Sr. retired on 1 July 1879 George Philip Jr. took control of the business. The publishing house produced geographical and educational publications and operated from Caxton Buildings in Liverpool, and from 30-32 Fleet Street in London. ‘Further expansion was prompted by the demand from board schools established after 1870 for general textbooks, school stationery and equipment, and specialist atlases and wall maps. The firm also supplied atlases and textbooks for many overseas countries in several languages.’[8] George Philip Jr. spotted a gap in the market for quality school textbooks, and over the following two decades Williams wrote and edited over forty books that sold worldwide.

The Geography of the Oceans

The Geography of the Oceans by John Francon Williams 1881

In 1881, Williams’ seminal book The Geography of the Oceans was published. The Geography of the Oceans focuses on topics such as: General Geography of the Oceans, Physical Geography of the Oceans, the Geography of Particular Oceans. The various sections focus on: the distribution of land and water, oceanic river-systems, the salts of the sea, the density, color and phosphorescence of the sea, distribution of marine life, temperature of the ocean, movements of the ocean, sidereal movements or tides, of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Antarctic and the Arctic Ocean. It was the first book to cover with such intensity the geography of the oceans. ‘A valuable little book entitled The Geography of the Oceans, which may be regarded almost as a new departure in geographical science,’ claimed the book reviewer in The Cornish Telegraph, who continued, [9] ‘I have found the book as fascinating as one of Jules Verne’s novels.’ The Daily Gazette called it, ‘A new geographical work of great importance.’[10]

Contour Map Of The World by J. Francon Williams

In 1881, Williams and his family moved to West Derby in Lancashire where they lived at 52 Bonsall Road.[11]

George Philip & Son employed three in-house cartographers; John Bartholomew the elder, William Hughes (geographer) and August Petermann. They were regarded as Europe's finest cartographers. As well as being a good friend of John Bartholomew junior, Williams was also a friend of Scottish journalist and writer John Geddie. In June 1882, Williams, along with cartographer John Bartholomew junior, nominated Geddie to become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Williams also tried his hand as an inventor, and one of his inventions (of which there were two different designs), a new spaced measuring rule or scale, was registered and patented on 21 April 1884.[12] The measuring rule was applicable in printing, painting, embossing or like means.

In 1887, Philip’s published Philip's Handy Volume Atlas of the World by William Hughes (geographer) and John Francon Williams. The pocket book contained 110 maps and plans all finely tinted, accompanied by statistical notes and other information. The Leeds Mercury said; ‘it would hardly be possible to find greater excellence in so convenient a form as we have in Philip's Handy Volume Atlas of the World.’[13] In the decade prior to the arrival of Pears' Cyclopaedia (1897), a much smaller work measuring 135x105 mm. was available. It sold for six-pence in cloth, or one shilling in leather hardback, and was extremely popular, selling 800,000 copies by 1896. Eli Lemon Sheldon (pen-name Dom Lemon) compiled the book. The book’s success led its publisher to create a series of similar little books that sold equally as well. Number thirty-six in the edition was A World Gazetteer compiled by John Francon Williams.[14] Williams’ revised version had the same atlas, with slightly larger maps. George Philip & Son printed the book.

Later Career

With Williams’ increase in wealth he moved his family yet again, this time to live in Wallasey, St. Hilary in Cheshire.[15] In 1896, Williams bought a freehold property in Mount Pleasant Road, in Wallasey, which he named ‘Balmain,’ after his wife, whose middle name was Balmain.[16]

Williams founded and edited the monthly magazine, Stories Illustrated.

In 1902, by the time George Philip Jr. had retired from George Philip & Son, Williams had moved his family yet again, this time to 22 Queens Grove Road, Chingford in Essex to live.[17]

The Hawes Junction Rail Crash

On Christmas Eve, 24 December 1910, the overnight express train from London to Glasgow departed at midnight from St. Pancras Station on its journey to Glasgow, with scheduled stops at Manchester, Leeds, Skipton, etc. The train consisted of four timber-bodied coaches, two sleeping cars and two brake vans and a locomotive. John Francon Williams and his eldest son John Williams Jr. happened to be in Manchester attending to publishing business on 24 December and had arranged to spend Christmas day with relatives and friends in Clackmannan in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. They had decided to catch the overnight express train from St. Pancras to Glasgow when it arrived in Manchester so they could enjoy Christmas festivities in Clackmannan. At nineteen minutes to six in the morning close to Hawes Junction, the express train travelling at high speed smashed into an oncoming locomotive. The express train concertinaed and careered off the tracks. Except for two electrically lit sleeping cars, the coaches were lit by the Pintsch oil gas system. The impact broke the gas pipe in one of the front carriages and an explosion followed. Fire spread quickly through the wooden carriages killing twelve trapped and injured passengers that could not escape.

The Dundee Courier, Tuesday 27 December reported: The news of the disaster occasioned considerable anxiety to the relatives of Mr. John Francon Williams, a prominent and highly-respected resident of Clackmannan. Mr. Williams and his eldest son Mr. John Williams, were in business in Manchester, and had sent word to their friends in Clackmannan that they intended to travel North with the night express so as to arrive home on Saturday morning for Christmas. The fact that they did not put in an appearance in Clackmannan on Saturday, coupled with the news of the disaster, naturally aroused fears for their safety in the minds of their waiting relatives. Telegraphic communication was opened up with the hotel in Manchester where Mr. Williams had been staying, and yesterday (26 December) it was ascertained that, though the father and son had fully intended travelling with the ill-fated express, through pressure of business they had been compelled to postpone their departure till Monday evening, an arrangement, which, in the light of what subsequently occurred, may be regarded as providential. [18]

John Francon Williams died a few months later in Leicestershire in 1911 and is buried in Clackmannan Cemetery in Clackmannanshire, Scotland.[19] John Francon Williams is identified as having had 42 published works in 79 publications in the World Catalogue (WorldCat). [20]

During WWI, John Francon Williams' eldest son, John B. Williams, enlisted in the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) 12th Battalion and was killed in action on 25 April 1918 in French Flanders.[21]

John Francon Williams is the father of Aeneas Francon Williams (missionary, writer, poet, etc.), and the father of David Dougal Williams (artist and art teacher), and the great-grandfather of writer Iain Cameron Williams.[22]

Published Works

(This list is by no means a comprehensive list)

Geography of the British Colonies and Dependencies by John Francon Williams, 1892
Everybody's Gazetteer and Atlas of the World by John Francon Williams publ. 1900
Image taken from page 25 of 'A Class-Book of Physical Geography ... New and improved edition, revised by J. Francon Williams' (11122315735)
Image taken from page 25 of 'A Class-Book of Physical Geography ... New and improved edition, revised by J. Francon Williams' (11120476483)

Sources

  1. ↑ John B. Williams baptism certificate on familysearch.org: John B. Williams was baptized on 5 August 1877, Northampton.
  2. ↑ www.ancestry.com - Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Baptisms 1813-1906 - Aeneas Francon Williams (son of John and Barbara Williams) baptized at St. Peter’s Church, Liverpool, 20 July 1886.
  3. ↑ Familysearch.org - Births, Marriages and Deaths, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000: David Dougall Williams was baptized on 22 July 1888 at St. Mary, Liscard, in Cheshire.
  4. ↑ Familysearch.org - Births, Marriages and Deaths, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000: Margaret Mary Ann Williams was christened on 8 November 1891 at St. Mary, Liscard, in Cheshire.
  5. ↑ 1851 Census – page 5 – Dougall Family: http://www.dunning.uk.net/census/c51pdf.pdf
  6. ↑ 1851 Census – page 5 – Dougall Family: http://www.dunning.uk.net/census/c51pdf.pdf
  7. ↑ Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, vol. 50, publ. 1880: List of the Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society; The number of Fellows elected during the past year (ending April 30th, 1880) included, John Francon Williams Esq. c/o George Philip & Son, Caxton Buildings, Liverpool; https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.70717/2015.70717.Journal-Of-The-Royal-Geographical-Society-Vol50_djvu.txt
  8. ↑ George Philip (biography), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press (retrieved 28 July 2017) http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/41112
  9. ↑ The Cornish Telegraph, Thursday 4 May 1882, page 4 - Jottings From London (Column) The Geography of the Oceans, (book review)
  10. ↑ The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, Friday 4 March 1881, page 2 - Literary Notes - The Geography of the Oceans (review)
  11. ↑ 1881 UK Census, West Derby, Lancashire, England. John and Barbara Williams. The Census states Barbara was born in Perthshire, Scotland.
  12. ↑ BT51/4/5500 – Class 3: wood, bone, ivory etc. Registered design No 5500: registered by John Francon Williams, Editor, of 57 Bonsall Road, West Derby, near Liverpool, Lancashire, 21 April 1884. BT51/4/5499 – Class 3: wood, bone, ivory etc. Registered design No 5500: registered by John Francon Williams, Editor, of 57 Bonsall Road, West Derby, near Liverpool, Lancashire, 21 April 1884. Both patents are held at the National Archives, Kew. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a?_ref=66
  13. ↑ Leeds Mercury, Wednesday 13 July 1887, page 9 - Literature - Philip's Handy Volume Atlas of the World (book review)
  14. ↑ George Philip 1888 Maps and John Francon Williams: Historyhttp://www.miniaturemaps.net/_webedit/uploaded-files/All%20Files/1851-1900/1888a%20Philip.pdf
  15. ↑ 1891 UK Census, Wallasey, St. Hilary, in Cheshire, England. The Williams family is living in Wallasey in Cheshire. John Francon Williams (aged 37)
  16. ↑ New Brighton Electoral Division, Wallasey Polling District, 1896 – John Francon Williams, ‘Balmain,’ Mount Pleasant Road
  17. ↑ 1901 UK Census, Chingford, Essex, England: Barbara Williams (widowed) is living in Chingford, Essex.
  18. ↑ The Dundee Courier, Tuesday 27 December 1910, p. 5 – Pathetic Scenes at Hawes Junction During Inquest on Victims of Express Disaster (report) - Clackmannan Gentleman’s Providential Escape (retrieved 8 August 2017)
  19. ↑ 1911 UK Census, Leicestershire, England. John Francon Williams (aged 57)
  20. ↑ John Francon Williams: http://www.worldcat.org/identities/viaf-93550164/
  21. ↑ Private John B. Williams (number 31107), Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) 12th Battalion, enlisted in Edinburgh, records held at: https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/1815321/private-john-b-williams-british-army-royal-scots/
  22. ↑ Iain Cameron Williams short biography on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4751.Iain_Cameron_Williams
  23. ↑ Library of Congress, USA: https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/search?searchCode=LCCN&searchArg=02019559&searchType=1&permalink=y
  24. ↑ Library of Congress, USA: https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/search?searchCode=LCCN&searchArg=02019560&searchType=1&permalink=y
  25. ↑ Library of Congress, USA: https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/search?searchCode=LCCN&searchArg=02019557&searchType=1&permalink=y
  26. ↑ A Class-Book of Modern Geography by J. Francon Williams, 1887 – British Library images of the book: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/11289251615/in/photolist-icAnce-hUKTqn-hUTWda-hUGQky-hUNJEx/
  27. ↑ The Queen’s Jubilee Atlas of the British Empire by John Francon Williams: http://www.worldcat.org/title/queens-jubilee-atlas-of-the-british-empire/oclc/24198217
  28. ↑ Philips’ Handy Volume Atlas of Australasia by J. Francon Williams: http://cat.lib.unimelb.edu.au/search~S6?/aWilliams%2C+Henry%2C+1923-/awilliams+henry+++++1923/-3%2C-1%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=awilliams+j+francon+john+francon&1%2C1%2C
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