Joseph Powell-Williams

Joseph Powell Williams was a British politician and a close political associate of Joseph Chamberlain. Born in Shrewsbury, he attended Hazlewood School, Birmingham, which was founded by his father's cousin Thomas Wright Hill. On leaving school he worked for Graham & James of Ludgate Hill, Solicitors, Birmingham. Business with this firm led him to travel to the United States where he was to represent this and other Birmingham interests. He conside... more

Joseph Powell Williams was a British politician and a close political associate of Joseph Chamberlain. Born in Shrewsbury, he attended Hazlewood School, Birmingham, which was founded by his father's cousin Thomas Wright Hill. On leaving school he worked for Graham & James of Ludgate Hill, Solicitors, Birmingham. Business with this firm led him to travel to the United States where he was to represent this and other Birmingham interests. He considered staying but the outbreak of the Civil War led him to return to Britain. He was also a partner in the firm of Hill, Evans & Co., vinegar manufacturers, which, along with Lea & Perrins, and Royal Worcester, were industrial mainstays of the city of Worcester. On his return from the United States he accepted an appointment to the Post Office which, under the guidance of Rowland Hill (Joseph's second cousin), was undergoing a substantial revolution in the way it worked. While in the Post Office he had a share in setting up the Post Office... less