Background
Williams was born on a farm in Dulverton, Somerset, England.
Williams was born on a farm in Dulverton, Somerset, England.
As a young man, he described himself as a "careless, thoughtless, godless, swearing young fellow". After an accident, his family sent him to Bridgwater to be an apprentice at a draper"s shop. In 1837, Williams was converted.
In 1841, he went to London and worked again in a draper"s shop.
After three years, in 1844, was promoted to department manager. Appalled by the terrible conditions in London for young working men, he gathered a group of his fellow drapers together to create a place that would not tempt young men into sin.
That place was the Young Men"s Christian Association (Young Men’s Christian Association), which he founded in 1844. One of the earliest converts and contributors to the new association was George"s employer, George Hitchcock.
Williams was knighted by Queen Victoria in her 1894 Birthday Honours.
After his death in 1905, he was commemorated by a stained-glass window in the nave of Westminster Abbey. Sir George Williams is buried in Street Paul"s Cathedral.