William Williams (Methodist)

Williams was born in Kooringa, South Australia, and grew up at the nearby Burra Mines, receiving his early education from (later Dr) John Riccardo Stephens[1] and at the local public school.

He trained for the ministry in Adelaide, then at the Wesleyan conference in 1869 he was accepted as a probationer and immediately sent to Daylesford, Victoria, where the minister was Rev.

A year later he was appointed superintendent of the Sale circuit, in the Gippsland region, and was able to breathe new life into its dwindling congregation and restore its failing finances.

While in Ballarat he was elected vice president of the Field Club and Science Society, having been introduced by Professor Mica Smith, the metallurgist.

Papers he read to scientific bodies in Australia include: No reports of marriage or children have been found.