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. He was the second 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. His wife was 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, Member of Parliament for Thetford, principal Secretary of State and President of the Royal Society. He was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London at the time of the Popish Plot but released by the King.