He was elected at a by-election in 1794 as Member of Parliament (MP) for Wallingford, in the interest of his father Sir Francis Sykes, 1st Baronet, of Basildon Park.
Considering that a letter signed 'Trim' that had appeared in Farley's Bristol Journal reflected badly on his conduct, he discovered that 'Trim' was a Mr C.F.
Standing at 10 paces' distance, they fired at each other four times (during which Sykes was slightly wounded in the foot and Williams in the groin) before their seconds intervened.
It was settled that Williams should publish a letter of apology and that Sykes should apologise to him in College Green before witnesses.
This article about a Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1707–1800) representing an English constituency is a stub.