William Williams was born in Lebanon, Connecticut in 1731. He graduated from Harvard in 1751 and then studies for the ministry with his father. He later dropped plans to become a minister though, and went on to become a merchant instead.
Williams’ political career was state oriented. He was a speaker for the lower house of the colonial legislature from 1755 until 1776, and from 1784 until 1803, he was a member of the Governor’s Council. Williams was tremendously supportive of the Revolutionary cause. He wrote newspaper commentaries and prepared Revolutionary state papers for the Governor. Furthermore, he served as a colonel on the state militia between 1773 and 1776. He attended the Continental Congress at two different times (1776-1778 and 1783-1784), and helped with the framing of the Articles of Confederation.
William Williams died in 1811 at the age of eighty. He lies in Trumbull Cemetery, not far from his hometown.
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