Leaders Worcester Cathedral
When discussing "Leader Williams" in a father-son context, the most prominent figures belong to a notable 19th-century British family from Worcester. The family name evolved as individual members became famous in their respective fields of art and engineering, painters including close connections to John Constable, Thomas Sanders and William Taunton to say a few.
Edward Leader Williams (1802-1879), the father was the Engineer in charge of the Severn navigation improvements in the 1840s, which saw the building of the locks and weirs from Lincomp to Gloucester. It was a fine piece of civil engineering which made that part of the Severn one of the best navigable rivers in the country. Sir Leader Williams , the son became chief engineer of the Manchester Ship Canal. Born at Diglis House (now the Diglis Hotel) in 1828, he commenced his professional work with his father on the locks and weirs of the Severn, and on the completion of that work he became Engineer to the Great Northern Railway. He was in charge of the Admiralty Pier at Dover and helped build the Anderton lift on the Trent and Mersey Canal, which was the first of its kind in the world. It led to him designing the swing aqueduct at Barton, which was one of the engineering wonders of the Manchester Ship Canal
Constable attended the Worcester Institute and in October 1835, he gave three lectures at the Worcester Athenaem Exhibition which William Taunton was a committee member. It seems that he only sold one painting here and for a small amount. Having so many unsold pictures with him he asked Leader Williams to hang some in his dining room at Diglis House, the family home. Among those were the Glebe Farm, The Lock on the Stour, and others now in the various Art locations including the National Gallery.
The Son: Benjamin Williams Leader (1831–1923)
Born Benjamin Leader Williams, he is the most famous member of the family. He became one of the most popular Victorian landscape painters. He changed is name in 1857, he transposed his names to become Benjamin Williams Leader to distinguish himself from the many other artists named Williams.
Career: He was a Royal Academician (RA) as was Sanders and Taunton were known for meticulously detailed landscapes like February Fill Dyke. His early training
was working as a draughtsman in his father’s engineering office before pursuing art full-time at the Royal Academy Schools.
The Brother: Sir Edward Leader Williams (1828–1910)
Benjamin’s elder brother, also named after their father, followed the engineering path more strictly. Legacy: He was the chief engineer and designer of the Manchester Ship Canal, for which he was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894.
Family Tragedy: Benjamin Eastlake Leader (1877–1916)
The artistic lineage continued into a third generation. Benjamin Williams Leader had a son, Benjamin Eastlake Leader, who was also a landscape painter. Sadly, he was killed in action during World War I while serving in the Royal West Surrey Regiment.