Ralph Champneys Williams

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Sir Ralph Champneys Williams CMG (March 9, 1848 – June 22, 1927) colonial governor born Anglesey, Wales and died London, England.

Williams, educated at The King's School, Chester and Rossall School joined the colonial service in 1884 and his first post was to Bechuanaland. He then served at Pretoria, South Africa, Gibraltar and Barbados before returning to Bechuanaland at the height of the Second Boer War. Williams was governor of the Windward Islands prior to his appointment as governor of Newfoundland in 1909.

While governor of Newfoundland Williams travelled throughout the island and the coast of Labrador. He was opposed to confederation with Canada and desired to maintain Newfoundland's individuality and hold fast Britain's last tie to North America. In 1913 he published his memoirs, How I Became a Governor. Two Newfoundland towns were renamed for him: Salmon Cove, Trinity Bay, became Champneys, and Greenspond, White Bay, became Williamsport.

[edit] See also

• Governors of Newfoundland
• Colonial heads of Botswana (Bechuanaland)
• Colonial Heads of the Windward Islands
• List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
• List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador

[edit] External link

• Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador

Political offices
Preceded by Hamilton John Goold-Adams	Colonial heads of Botswana (Bechuanaland) 1901-1906	Succeeded by Francis William Panzera
Preceded by Sir Robert Baxter Llewelyn	Governor of the Windward Islands 1906-1909	Succeeded by Sir James Hayes Sadler
Preceded by Sir William Macgregor	Dominion Governor of Newfoundland 1909-1913	Succeeded by Sir Walter Edward Davidson