Sir William Molesworth, 8th Baronet
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The Right Honourable Sir William Molesworth Bt |
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| First Commissioner of Works | |
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In office 5 January 1853 – 30 January 1855 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Aberdeen |
| Preceded by | Lord John Manners |
| Succeeded by | Sir Benjamin Hall, Bt |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
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In office 21 July 1855 – 22 October 1855 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Viscount Palmerston |
| Preceded by | Lord John Russell |
| Succeeded by | Henry Labouchere |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
23 May 1810 London |
| Died | 22 October 1855 (aged 45) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Radical |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
Sir William Molesworth, 8th Baronet PC (23 May 1810 – 22 October 1855), was a Radical British politician, who served in the coalition cabinet of The Earl of Aberdeen from 1853 until his death in 1855 as First Commissioner of Works and then Colonial Secretary.
Much later, when justifying to the Queen his own new appointments, Gladstone told her: "For instance, even in Ld Aberdeen's Govt, in 52, Sir William Molesworth had been selected, at that time, a very advanced Radical, but who was perfectly harmless, & took little, or no part... He said these people generally became very moderate, when they were in office", which she admitted had been the case.
Molesworth was born in London and succeeded to the baronetcy in 1823. He was educated privately before entering St John's College, Cambridge as a fellow commoner. Moving to Trinity College, he fought a duel with his tutor, and was sent down from the university. He also studied abroad and at Edinburgh University for some time. Molesworth was a member of the London Electrical Society.
On the passing of the Reform Act 1832 Molesworth was returned to Parliament for the Eastern division of Cornwall, to support the ministry of Lord Grey. Through Charles Buller he made the acquaintance of George Grote and James Mill, and in April 1835 he founded, in conjunction with Roebuck, the London Review, as an organ of the Philosophic Radicals. After the publication of two volumes he purchased the Westminster Review, and for some time the united magazines were edited by him and J. S. Mill. Buller and Molesworth were associated with Edward Gibbon Wakefield and his schemes for colonising South Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
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