Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/435

LEFT WILLIAMS 875 WILLIAMS manor of Wykeham, and was afterward recommended by him to the notice of Edward HI. Having taken holy orders he was elevated to the rich see of Win- chester, and in 1367 was appointed to the chancellorship of England. He founded (1373) a grammar school at Winchester, which still exists; and about the same time founded a college at Oxford, now called New College. In the last years of his life he rebuilt Winchester Cathedral. He died in 1404. WILLIAMS, SIR GEORGE, founder of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion; born in Dulverton, Somersetshire, England, Oct. 11, 1821. In 1841 he went to London; gathered together the young men employed in the same establishment as himself, and on June 12, 1844, organized, with 12 of them, a band called the "Young Men's Christian Associa- tion," which was designed to be "a society for improving the spiritual condition of young men engaged in the drapery and other trades." He was the first treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, and was always devoted to its interests. He was knighted in 1894. He died Nov. 6, 1905. WILLIAMS, HENRY SMITH, an American physician and author, born in Durand, 111., in 1863. He graduated from the State University of Iowa in 1887, and from the Chicago Medical School in 1884. From 1898 to 1902, he was en- gaged in post-graduate work in hospitals in Berlin, Paris, and London, and served as a specialist in mental diseases in several hospitals for the insane. He was medical superintendent of Randall's Island Hospital in 1892. He wrote "The Story of the Nineteenth Century Science" (1900) ; "The History of Art of Writing" (1902); "The Conquest of Nature" (1911; "The Wonders of Science in Modern Life" (1912) ; "Miracles of Science" (1913) ; "Luther Burbank— His Life and Work" (1915). He also edited several sets of volumes, including "The Works of Luther Burbank" (1915). WILLIAMS, JESSE LYNCH, an American writer, born in Sterling, 111., in 1871. After graduating from Prince- ton in 1892, he engaged in newspaper work for several years and in 1895 published "Princeton Stories". This was followed by "The Stolen Story, and Other Newspaper Stories" (1891); "New York Sketches" (1902) ; "The Married Life of the Frederic Carrols" (1910) ; "And So They Were Married" (1915). He also wrote several successful plays, including "Why Marry," produced in 1917, when he was awarded the Pulitzer prize by Columbia University for the best Ameri- can play produced in that year. He was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. WILLIAMS, JOHN SHARP, a United States Senator from Mis- sissippi, born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1854. He was educated at the Kentucky Military Institute, at the University of Virginia, and at the University of Heidelberg. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1877. In the following year he removed to Mississippi and engaged in cotton planting. He took an active interest in politics and was elected to Congress from the 53d to the 60th Congresses (1893-1911). During his service in the House of Representa- tives, he served as minority leader and was the Democratic candidate for speaker from the 58th to the 60th Congresses. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1910, and was re-elected in 1916. Dur- ing his service in the Senate he was a member of the Foreign Relations Com- mittee and of the Finance Committee. He was recognized as one of the strongest Democratic members, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate. He wrote "Permanent Influence of Thomas Jefferson on American Insti- tutions" (1913). WILLIAMS, JOHN SKELTON, an American banker and public official, born in Powhatan co., Va., in 1865. He was educated at Richmond, Va., and at the University of Virginia. He was tlie organizer and, from 1899 to 1904, the president of the Seaboard Air Line Rail- way System, as well as the organizer and president of a number of banks, trust companies, and industrial institutions. In 1901 he was the chairman of the trust company section of the American Bank- ers' Association. In March, 1913, he was appointed by President Wilson, first as- sistant secretary of the Treasury, and in January, 1914, comptroller of the cur- rency, to which latter office he was re- appointed in 1919, and from which he re- signed at the end of Mr. Wilson's second administration in 1921. He was at various times a member of the advisory board of the Interstate Commerce Commission on the valuation of railroad, steamship, telegraph, and telephone lines; a mem- ber of the advisory committee to the di- rector-general of railroads for special supervision of railway financing; a mem- ber of the Capital Issues Committee; a member of the central committee and the national treasury of the American Red Cross (since 1913) ; and director of the division of finance and pur- chases under the director general of railroads.