Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Williams, David (1792-1850)
WILLIAMS, DAVID (1792–1850), geologist, son of John Williams of Barry, Glamorganshire, was born at Bleadon in 1792. He matriculated from Jesus College, Oxford, on 24 Oct. 1810, proceeding B.A. in 1814 and M.A. in 1820. Prior to this he was ordained, and in 1826 was presented to the vicarage of Kingston and the rectory of Bleadon, both in Somerset. The latter place appears to have been his residence, but he died at Weston-super-Mare on 7 Sept. 1850. He was elected F.G.S. in 1828, and in 1831 published his first paper, and continued to write at intervals on geological subjects till 1849. Thirty-one scientific papers appear under his name in the Royal Society's catalogue, most of them relating to the south-west of England, and seventeen treat of the geology of Cornwall and Devon. He was evidently a careful observer, but held views as to the origin of certain igneous rocks which would not be generally accepted at the present day.
[Royal Soc. Cat. of Scientific Papers; Boase and Courtney's Bibliotheca Cornubiensis; Gent. Mag. 1850, ii. 557.]