John Williams, Archbishop of York
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The Most Reverend and Right Honourable John Williams |
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|---|---|
| Archbishop of York | |
 |
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| Installed | 1641 |
| Term ended | 1646 (episcopacy abolished) |
| Predecessor | Richard Neile |
| Successor | Accepted Frewen (1660) |
| Other posts | Bishop of Lincoln (1621–1641) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
22 March 1582 Conwy, Wales |
| Died | 25 March 1650 (aged 68) Gwydir, Wales |
| Buried | Llandygai Church |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Education | Ruthin School |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge |
John Williams (22 March 1582 – 25 March 1650) was a Welsh clergyman and political advisor to King James I. He served as Bishop of Lincoln 1621–1641, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal 1621–1625, and Archbishop of York 1641–1646. He was the last bishop to serve as lord chancellor.
John Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, and later Archbishop of York, was born in Conwy, Wales, second son of Edmund and Mary Williams. At a time when many bishops came from rather humble backgrounds, Williams prided himself on belonging to an "ancient family". He attended Ruthin School before graduating from St John's College, Cambridge BA 1601, MA 1605, BD 1613, and DD 1616. He became a fellow in 1603 and was a University Proctor in 1611-12. He entered the clergy and he first impressed the king by a sermon in 1610. He became the king's chaplain in 1617.
In 1620 he was made Dean of Westminster and was swiftly elevated by King James I to the Bishopric of Lincoln in 1621, as well as being made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. Throughout his political career Williams was identified as a strong supporter of King James, who, it has been said, valued him as a man "who knew his mind and would do his bidding" and with whom personally he had much in common. He alienated the Prince of Wales, the future Charles I by disapproving of his ill-fated expedition with the Duke of Buckingham to Madrid. When James I died and was succeeded by Charles I in 1625, Williams was quickly removed from the office of Lord Chancellor, and was prevented from attending Parliament. Though Williams managed to survive Buckingham, who was assassinated in 1628, he remained out of favour; he incurred the enmity of William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 and his powerful ally Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, both of whom had great influence with Charles I.
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