Howard Williams | |
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 Portrait fromFifty Years of Food Reform (1898) | |
| Born | (1837-01-06)6 January 1837 Whatley, Mendip, England |
| Died | 21 September 1931(1931-09-21) (aged 94) Aspley Guise, England |
| Education | St John's College, Cambridge (B.A., 1860;M.A., 1863) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1865–1907 |
| Known for |
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| Spouse | |
| Family | Henry John Williams (brother) |
Howard Williams (6 January 1837 – 21 September 1931) was an English writer and historian. He was an advocate forhumanitarianism,vegetarianism, and anopponent of vivisection. He is best known forThe Ethics of Diet (1883), a historical survey of European vegetarianism that has been described as a classic of vegetarian literature and cited as an influence on the lateVictorian vegetarian movement. Earlier he publishedThe Superstitions of Witchcraft (1865), a study of the history and social effects of witchcraft beliefs. His other publications included a study of eighteenth-century letter writing centred onJonathan Swift andAlexander Pope (1885), and a translation with notes of selected dialogues byLucian (1887).
In 1891 Williams helped to found theHumanitarian League; he later wrote "Pioneers of humanity" for the league's journal, which was subsequently issued as a pamphlet. He served on the league's board, was a vice-president of theLondon Vegetarian Society and sat on the board of theAnimal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society.
Williams was a born on 6 January 1837, inWhatley, Mendip, the fifth son of the Reverend Hamilton John Williams and Margaret Sophia.[1] His older brother was the priest andChristian vegetarian activistHenry John Williams.[2][3]
Williams was home educated by private tutors,[4] before pursuing a degree in history atSt John's College, Cambridge, where he earned aB.A. in 1860 and anM.A. in 1863.[1] During his time there, Williams developed a close friendship with Professor Newman. Through this relationship, he cultivated a profound interest inhumanitarian causes, a passion that persisted throughout his life.[4]
Williams considered a clerical career but did not enterHoly Orders. Instead, he worked as a private tutor for several years.[4]
Williams published his first book,The Superstitions of Witchcraft, in 1865.[1] It presents a continuous historical account of witchcraft belief, describing its wide reach across periods and social groups. It recounts the prosecutions associated with such beliefs, including torture, burnings, and executions, and argues that forms of the belief persisted in the nineteenth century in Europe and elsewhere.[5]
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In 1872, Williams adoptedvegetarianism and became ananti-vivisectionist.[1] Writing in 1874, he described the "eating house" as an effective means of popularising vegetarian food, arguing that serving affordable, appealing pies and savouries would be more effective than urging people to adopt a vegetarian diet.[6]
In 1883, Williams publishedThe Ethics of Diet, a historical account of European vegetarianism; the book is considered to be a vegetarian classic, an authoritative text, and went through multiple editions.[1] It has since been cited as a significant influence on the growth of the lateVictorian vegetarian movement.[7]
In the 1880s, Williams expanded his academic endeavours to encompass a variety of topics. In 1885, he published a comprehensive study of the correspondence betweenAlexander Pope andJonathan Swift, followed in 1887 by his translation of selected dialogues byLucian.[1]
Williams was the inspiration for and one of the founding members of theHumanitarian League, in 1891, which "opposed all avoidable suffering on any sentient being".[8][9] He remained on the board for several years and authored the "Pioneers of Humanity" for the league's journal, which was later published as a popular pamphlet.[1] He also served as the Vice-President of theLondon Vegetarian Society[4] and was a board member of theAnimal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society.[8]
Williams married Eliza Smith on 20 November 1860;[1] she died around 1906.[4]
In his later years, Williams chose a more secluded lifestyle, dedicating his time to gardening, tutoring, and canoeing from his home inAspley Guise, nearWoburn, Bedfordshire. He died there on 21 September 1931.[1]
Not unimportant in the momentum gathered by the Vegetarian Movement in late Victorian England was a book by one Howard Williams entitled The Ethics of Diet, which was published in 1890.
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