He edited Williams' Citations of Massachusetts Cases in 1878 and volumes 10 to 17 of the Annual Digest of the United States 1880 to 1887.

He served as member of the Dedham School Committee before being elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1890.

Williams was appointed Minister to Greece and Montenegro by President Woodrow Wilson, serving in 1914.

He resigned this position after a visit to Albania witnessing the tragic Albanian civilians being murdered and left to die of hunger by the current regime.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress