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Sir John Williams (1840-1926), Baronet, doctor, was the first president of the National Library of Wales. He was born in Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, the son of David Williams, farmer and Independent Minister. He was educated at Glasgow University, 1857-1858. At University College Hospital, London, he obtained the degrees of MB in 1866 and MD in 1867. He began practicing medicine in Swansea, then returned to University College Hospital as house surgeon, retiring as Emeritus Professor in Midwifery in University College, London, and consulting Physician in Midwifery to University College Hospital. In 1886 he began to attend members of the Royal Family. He became personal physician to the Duchess of York (later Queen Mary, wife of King George V) and attended her at the birth of the future King Edward VIII. He was made a baronet, 1894, a KCVO, 1902, and a GCVO, 1911. Upon retiring, he returned to Wales, and settled at Plas Llanstephan, Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire. He was one of the prime movers for the establishment of the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth. He purchased major collections of Welsh books and manuscripts, including the Peniarth Manuscripts, with the intention of giving them to the Welsh nation. He was first president of the National Library, 1907-1926. He became president of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, in 1913, and was awarded honorary doctorates by four universities. In 1872 he married Mary Elizabeth Anne Hughes (died 1915), daughter of Richard Hughes of Ynystawe, near Swansea. He died on 24 May 1926.