Sir Hedworth Williamson, 8th Baronet

Sir Hedworth Williamson, 8th Baronet (25 March 1827, Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany – 26 August 1900, Whitburn, County Durham) was a British diplomat and Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1864 to 1874.

Williamson was the son of Sir Hedworth Williamson, 7th Baronet and his wife Hon. Anne Elizabeth Liddell, daughter of 1st Baron Ravensworth. He was educated at Eton College and at Christ Church, Oxford, later migrating to St John's College, Cambridge. He was an attache at St. Petersburgh from 1848 to 1850, and at Paris from 1850 till 1856. In 1861 he inherited the baronetcy on the death of his father. He was a Deputy Lieutenant and J.P. for Durham and Captain Commandant of the 1st Durham Volunteer Artillery for 28 years from its formation in 1860, later becoming its honorary colonel.

Williamson was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for North Durham at an unopposed by-election in 1864, and held the seat until he stepped down at the 1874 general election. He was then appointed High Sheriff of Durham for 1877.