Sir Joseph Williamson
Sir Joseph Williamson was buried on 14th October 1701 in the vault of the Duke of Richmond and Lennox in Henry VII's chapel in Westminster Abbey, but he has no monument or marker.
His life
He was born on 25th July 1633, a son of the Reverend Joseph Williamson of Bridekirk in Cumbria (Cumberland) and his wife Agnes (Bowman). He attended Westminster School and Queen's College Oxford and trained as a lawyer.
On 12th February 1679 he married Catherine Stuart, daughter of Lord D'Aubigny (whose first husband was Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibracken). She became Baroness Clifton in her own right and was buried on 11th November 1702. She had no children by Joseph (but two children by O'Brien are buried at the Abbey and her brother). Sir Joseph was said to have an illegitimate son Joseph Hornsby.
After holding various posts such as Clerk of the Council he was knighted in 1672, was keeper of the King's library, Postmaster General, Member of Parliament for Thetford and for Rochester, principal Secretary of State, President of the Royal Society and Ambassador Extraordinary at The Hague. He was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London at the time of the Popish Plot but released by the King. He lived in Jermyn Street in London and at Cobham Hall in Kent.
Further reading
This image can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library
Image © 2025 Dean and Chapter of Westminster
