Richard Williams, starting out to earn his living at the age of sixteen years, is now well known as a prominent architect of New Haven, where many fine structures stand as monuments to his enterprise and his skill. He was born in Anglesey, Wales, October 14, 1860, a son of John Williams, who was also a native of that little rock-ribbed country, where he spent his entire life, conducting a successful business as a contractor. He reached the venerable age of ninety-one years, while his wife passed away in 1894, when but sixty years of age. She bore the maiden name of Margaret Griffiths and was also a native of Wales.

Richard Williams, the youngest of their six children, was educated in the schools of his native city and in an art school at Birkenhead, England, from which he was in due time graduated. Dependent upon his own resources from the age of sixteen years, he served a three years' apprenticeship at the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which he afterward followed as a journeyman for about three years. He came to America in October, 1888, and for a few months remained in New York, where he was employed by an architect, after which he removed to Bridgeport and became connected with Longstaff & Hurd, architects, with which firm he continued for five years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in New Haven and entered the employ of William H. Allen, who after eight years sold to him his business, which was carried on under the name of Richard Williams, but six years later the two entered into partnership under the firm style of Allen & Williams. That connection was maintained until 1914, when in the month of March the relationship was discontinued and Mr. Williams has since been alone in practice. In his professional capacity either as partner or as an individual he made the design for the Union League Club, the New Haven county home, the New Haven county courthouse, the Tudor Garden apartments, the Plymouth church, the Christian Science church, the North Haven Congregational church, the St. Louis French Roman Catholic church, St. Anthony's Roman Catholic church, St. Mary' rectory, St. Peter's school, the library at Meriden, the Young Men's Christian Association building at Ansonia and the Country Club at Waterbury. Among the more recent structures he has designed are the Milford grammar school, also the First Baptist church in West Haven. He has also erected many of the most beautiful homes of New Haven and adjoining counties. Beauty, convenience and utility all feature in his buildings and his ideas when put into tangible form have constituted some of the most attractive architectural features of this section of the state.

In 1906 Mr. Williams was united in marriage in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Miss Harriett Reader, a native of Westfield, Connecticut, and a daughter of the late Thomas Reader. Mr. Williams is a member of the Union League and also of the Yacht Club and fraternally he is connected with Wooster Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but while keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he does not seek nor desire office. Along professional lines he is connected with the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and also with the American Institute of Architects. What he has accomplished has resulted from his intelligently directed efforts and developed powers in the line of his profession. He possesses the substantial qualities of ambition and energy, and from the faithful performance of each day's duties he has found strength and inspiration for the efforts of the succeeding day. Thus gradually he has advanced to a position of leadership among the architects of his adopted city.