John Francon Williams FRGS (1854 – 4 September 1911) was a British writer, geographer, historian, journalist, cartographer, and inventor, born in Llanllechid, Caernarvonshire.

The publishing house produced geographical and educational publications and operated from Caxton Buildings in Liverpool, and 30–32 Fleet Street in London.

"[18] George Philip II spotted a gap in the market for quality school textbooks, and over the following two decades, Williams wrote and edited over forty books that were sold worldwide.

They will prove invaluable to the young learners and are well worth the consideration of every teacher of ‘Mapping.’’[24] George Philip & Son employed three in-house cartographers: John Bartholomew the elder, William Hughes, and August Petermann.

He also patented several other inventions including, ‘pencils with moveable leads’ and ‘pen-and-ink holders’ registered in 1883,[27] ‘letter clips and files’ and additional ‘pencils with moveable leads’ registered in 1884,[28] and ‘educational appliances’ in 1885[29] On 29 December 1885, John F. Williams attended the first annual children's Athletic Fete and Industrial Exhibition, held at the Liverpool Gymnasium in Myrtle Street under the auspices of the Liverpool Council of Education and School Board.

A glowing review of Philips' Handy Volume and Atlas of the World appeared in the West London Observer on Saturday 23 July 1887: "In days when the facilities of locomotion are such that everybody runs about the world, and the process of what popularly known as 'globe-trotting' goes on to an extraordinary extent and in a systematic manner, a comprehensive volume, small, compact, admirably arranged, clearly printed and well bound, and which can be carried in the pocket, like that published by Messrs. Philip & Son of Liverpool and London, is entitled to be regarded as a special boon.

The production of this most useful work must have entailed a large outlay, but it cannot be doubted that, as it will supply a popular want, the sale will be enormous, and fully compensate the enterprising publishers for the cost and trouble incurred.

We earnestly recommend the 'Handy Volume,' not alone to travellers, but to all who have occasion in connection with literary pursuits, or the prosecution of business, 'to survey mankind from China to Peru,' or over those wider districts, which a century ago were practically beyond even a poets pen.

[34] In 1888, Philips' published several geographical atlases they named 'Handy-Volumes' compiled and written by Williams that were distributed widely worldwide; ‘All these compact and clearly-printed miniature works, suitable for pocket or desk, and rightly named ‘Handy-Volumes’ are supplied with indexes, and geographical, statistical and historical notes, carefully gathered by Mr. J. Francon Williams FRGS.’[35] In America, John's history books were introduced into the school curriculum, where they remained for many years.

In the letter, Williams writes, ‘Permit me to beg your kind acceptance of the accompanying copy of our little Atlas of British America, and also to ask you to examine it with a view to its authorization for use in the public schools and colleges of your province.’ In 1899, Ross became the Premier of Ontario.

[37] Whether Ross ordered a shipment of Atlas of British America is not documented, but Williams’ attraction to Canada appears to have commenced from around this period.

On 15 December 1890, the Council of the London branch of the Froebel Society – (established in 1874 to teach and validate school examinations and teaching training courses at a kindergarten level, applying German educator Friedrich Fröbel’s methods) – passed a resolution to publish a new monthly journal titled Child Life, dedicated to kindergarten education.

John Francon Williams was one of the initial contributors to the journal writing articles in the January[41] and February[42] editions covering geography tutoring.

Not everyone is a born teacher, but everyone engaged in teaching may, by diligent study and perseverance, gain by art what he has not by nature, and no subject affords such opportunities for the exercise and display of skill in the art of teaching as geography.’[43] George Philip & Son were the appointed publishers of the journal,[44] an association that continued until 1934, after which the Froebel Society published the journal in house.

Original copies of Child Life are housed at the University of Roehampton, London, and can be accessed via their Froebel Archive Digital Collection.

Due prominence has been given to the Mountain and River Systems and other natural features; the present political condition of each State is indicated and, bearing in mind the fact the study of Commercial geography is daily becoming of greater importance, the Industry and Trade of the principal countries are dealt with in considerable detail.’ Williams goes on to assure the reader, 'In the preparation of this work the best and most recent British and foreign authorities have been consulted, and no pains have been spared to make the book a reliable exponent of the geographical knowledge of the present day.

Being of a similar format to Strand Magazine, such competition irked Newnes and appears to have encouraged him to reach out and make Williams an offer to sell Stories Illustrated to him.

He would travel to Edinburgh, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester, Manchester, London, and also abroad, primarily the United States and Canada, pursuing and securing contracts for publishing houses.

[60] In it, he mentions his "unavoidable connection" with map-maker George Washington Bacon, with whom he is working with on several projects, both editorial and administrative, and hopes that his friend Sir Alfred Lewis Jones (the millionaire ship-owner) might be interested in becoming a financial partner in the syndicate.

[69] On 19 March 1904, Williams departed from Liverpool aboard SS Etruria bound for America on yet another business trip as a representative for various publishing houses.

[71] In 1906, Williams devised a ‘self-educator Atlas.’ He greatly enthuses about it in a letter dated 31 October 1906 to his friend in Edinburgh cartographer John George Bartholomew.

His concerns regarding the copyright of the ‘self-educator Atlas’ have prompted Williams to confide in his friend that he intends to have his idea patented; ‘I wouldn’t dream of ever suggesting anything of the kind, but these huge administrative houses have the idea-absorption propensity so strongly developed that every possible means of legitimate protection is fully justified.’[72] In John's role as an agent for Bartholomew's, he mentions in the same letter, ‘I will at the same time see Mr. Selfridge personally and show him the London & Regions maps of England & Wales.’ Wealthy businessman Harry Gordon Selfridge was visiting the UK on a trip from Chicago.

At 19 minutes to six in the morning, close to Hawes Junction, the express train travelling at high speed smashed into an oncoming locomotive.

The Dundee Courier on Tuesday 27 December in their coverage of the Hawes Junction rail crash reported: The news of the disaster occasioned considerable anxiety to the relatives of Mr. John Francon Williams, a prominent and highly-respected resident of Clackmannan.

The fact that they did not put in an appearance in Clackmannan on Saturday, coupled with the news of the disaster, naturally aroused fears for their safety in the minds of their waiting relatives.

Telegraphic communication was opened up with the hotel in Manchester where Mr. Williams had been staying, and yesterday (26 December) it was ascertained that, though the father and son had fully intended travelling with the ill-fated express, through pressure of business they had been compelled to postpone their departure till Monday evening, an arrangement, which, in the light of what subsequently occurred, may be regarded as providential.

John Francon Williams died from a brain haemorrhage on 4 September 1911 in the County Hospital, Alloa, and is buried in an unmarked grave beside his wife in Clackmannan Cemetery in Clackmannanshire, Scotland.

[79] During World War I, John Francon Williams' eldest son, John Balmain Williams, now an artist, enlisted in the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) 12th Battalion[80] and was killed in action on 25 April 1918 at the 2nd Battle of Kemmel at Lagache Farm, west of Wytschaete in Flanders, Belgium, along with 100 men of the 12th Battalion Royal Scots.

[89] The brass plaque is inscribed: John Francon Williams FRGS, 1854 – 4 September 1911, writer, geographer ‘It may therefore be truly said that the present ocean is but a vast workshop, where the materials of future continents are elaborated and preserved.’ J.F.

Jane Williams married Edward Burton Hughes (1905 – 6 June 1987), who became the Acting Commissioner of New York State Department of Transportation.