General Sir William Fenwick Williams, 1st Baronet (4 December 180026 July 1883) was a Nova Scotian-born British Army officer.
Williams is remembered for his defence of the town of Kars during the Crimean War. He with other British officers inspired the poorly equipped Turkish soldiers to repel Russian attacks by General Murav’ev on the besieged town for three months, causing 6,000 Russian casualties. They were forced to surrender due to starvation, disease and shortage of ammunition. However, they surrendered on their own terms, with the officers being allowed to retain their swords. Williams was imprisoned at Ryazan, but he was treated very well and released at the end of the Crimean War in 1856. Before returning home he was introduced to Tsar Alexander II.
Many other honours were bestowed upon Williams, and in 1865–1867, he was appointed the first Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, where he was born.
Life
Birth, education and early career
thumb|left|Williams' re-located childhood home in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.
He was born in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, the second son of Commissary-General Thomas Williams, barrack-master at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - a plaque now marks the site. He was, however, widely rumoured to be the illegitimate son of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn; this would make him Queen Victoria's half-brother. Williams never denied this, but it is not thought to be true.
Williams was educated at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich. He was appointed CB in 1852. The sword shown is displayed at University of King's College Library, Halifax.]]
thumb|left| Sir William Fenwick Williams, 1st Baronet, 1853
Promoted colonel, he was British commissioner with the Turkish army in Anatolia in the Crimean War (Russian War) of 1854–56, and, having been made a pasha (general/governor/lord) with the degree of ferik (major-general), he commanded the Turkish troops at the defence of the town of Kars during the Crimean War.
A baronetcy with pension for life, the KCB, the grand cross of the Legion of Honour and of the Order of the Medjidie, the freedom of the City of London with a sword of honour, and the honorary degree of DCL of Oxford University, were the distinctions conferred upon him, along with promotion to major-general in November 1855 after his return from captivity in Russia.