| Honorific Prefix: | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Sir Hugh Williams | |
| Honorific Suffix: | Bt |
| Office: | Member of Parliament for Beaumaris |
| Term Start: | 1785 |
| Term End: | 1794 |
| Predecessor: | Hon. Hugh Fortescue |
| Term Start1: | 1768 |
| Term End1: | 1780 |
| Predecessor1: | Richard Thelwall Price |
| Successor1: | Sir George Warren |
| Birth Name: | Hugh Williams |
| Birth Date: | 1718 |
| Parents: | Colonel Griffith Williams Mary née Williams |
| Children: | Sir Robert Williams |
| Relations: | Viscount Bulkeley |
Sir Hugh Williams, 8th Baronet (1718 – 19 August 1794), was a British Army officer and landowner in Wales, who sat in the House of Commons between 1768 and 1794.[1]
Born in 1718, the son of Colonel Griffith Williams of Arianws, near Llangelynnin, Caernarvonshire and, his wife, Mary, daughter of Robert Williams,[2] he was commissioned into the British Army in 1739.
Promoted Captain in the 34th Foot in 1744, he succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his cousin Sir Robert Williams, 7th Baronet, in November 1745.[3]
In 1756 Sir Hugh was a Major in the 6th Foot at Menorca when the garrison was attacked in that year. In 1759 Williams was serving in a Volunteer Battalion of the 85th Foot.
Correspondence indicates that Sir Hugh was becoming involved in politics in Beaumaris, partly in the interest of his stepson Thomas Bulkeley, but was hindered by the secrecy of his marriage (due to his father-in-law's disapproval of Williams).
In the course of these dealings, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 53rd Foot in 1761 and appointed Constable of Beaumaris Castle in July 1761. However, his regiment being stationed at Gibraltar, Williams was ordered to return to military duties on the European continent. Williams disliked the climate and requested to be transferred to a regiment at home. As this was refused Sir Hugh retired from the Army on half-pay in December 1764 to take care of affairs at Beaumaris.[3]
In 1768 Williams was elected Member of Parliament for Beaumaris but made little contribution. His stepson Thomas Bulkeley joined him in Parliament in 1774 and was encouraging him to take a greater interest. However he found parliamentary business tiresome and stood down in 1780.[3]
Returned as MP for Beaumaris at a by-election in 1785 Williams retained the seat until his death on 19 August 1794.[3]
Sir Hugh married Emma Bridget (Rowlands), dowager Viscountess Bulkeley, widow of James Bulkeley, 6th Viscount Bulkeley on 28 June 1760. She was the only daughter and heiress of Thomas Rowlands of Caerau, Anglesey, but as her father disapproved of Williams, the marriage was kept secret.[4]
Sir Hugh and Lady Williams (aka Bulkeley) had two sons and two daughters, including:[5]
Sir Hugh died on 19 August 1794, being succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son Robert.[3]
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