Title: Archbishop Williams, Lord Keeper.
Engraver: Jabez Goldar (British, 1729-1795). Goldar's first name was not John but Jabez.
Date: 1783.
Inscription: In the Pofsefsion of William Cooper Efgr.
Plate mark: 18,5 x 20 cms.
Condition: some foxing due to age that can be seen in the image.
Description: Portrait of John Williams, half-length, in an oval, slightly turned to the right, dressed in an academic robe with a large ruff about his neck and with a wide-brimmed hat on his head.
John Williams (22 March 1582 – 25 March 1650) was a Welsh clergyman and political advisor to King James I. He served as Bishop of Lincoln 1621–1641, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal 1621–1625, and Archbishop of York 1641–1646. He was the last bishop to serve as lord chancellor.
John Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, and later Archbishop of York, was born in Conwy, Wales, the second son of Edmund Williams and Mary Wynn. At a time when many bishops came from rather humble backgrounds, Williams prided himself on belonging to an "ancient family". He attended Ruthin School before graduating from St John's College, Cambridge BA 1601, MA 1605, BD 1613, and DD 1616. He became a fellow in 1603 and was a University Proctor in 1611–12. He entered the clergy and he first impressed the king by a sermon he preached in 1610. He became the king's chaplain in 1617.