Researching William Vincent

The youngest son of James Crawley Vincent and grandson of the dean of Bangor, he was educated at Brecon and Trinity College, Dublin. In 1887 he joined the Indian Civil Service, rising to vice-president of the legislative council of India and a member of the Council of India from 1923 to 1931.

Knighted in 1913, Vincent was India's representative at the League of Nations in 1926. He returned to Wales in 1931 and became treasurer of the University College of North Wales, Bangor. He was the brother of Sir Hugh Corbet Vincent.

William voyaged on the ship The Slains Castle (a New Zealand Company ship) from Deal, England on 18 September 1840 and he arrived in Wellington in January 1841. William was just 17-years-old when he emigrated.

William became involved in various early Wellington newspapers. By 1843, William had established himself and appeared in the Burgess Roll of Wellington, which was a list noting the "Who's who of Wellington".

William and his family moved to Sydney in New South Wales in 1853, where he worked for The Sydney Morning Herald. In June 1859, he established the Clarence and Richmond Examiner in Grafton in northern New South Wales. He died in Grafton on 22 November 1861.

Vincent was the son of Francis Vincent, chapman of Weedon, Northamptonshire, and his wife, Elizabeth Langham, daughter of Edward Langham of Guilsborough, Northamptonshire, and sister of Sir John Langham, 1st Baronet. Vincent was apprenticed to Thomas Langham, a Grocer of London, and established himself as a linen-draper. He became a member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in about 1639 and a member of the Honourable Artillery Company in 1640. In 1645 he became an assistant of the Levant Company; he became husband of the company in 1650. He was a member of the committee of the East India Company from 1654 until his death. He was commissioner for assessment for London in 1657 and a common councilman in 1657 and 1658. In 1658, he was elected an alderman of the City of London, for Bishopsgate ward. He was elected Sheriff of London in 1659, but did not serve.

In 1659, Vincent was commissioner for militia and became deputy governor of the Levant Company, a position he held until his death. He signed the petition for a free Parliament and presented it to the Rump Parliament. He was commissioner for assessment for London from January 1660 until his death and was one of the three commissioners empowered to deal with General Monck on behalf of the City. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London when the Council of State ordered his arrest for suspected high treason on 6 February 1660, and was released when the secluded Members were returned to parliament. He was commissioner for militia in March 1660.

In April 1660, Vincent was elected Member of Parliament for the City of London. He was one of the four London merchants who advanced £25,000 for the King in Holland. After presenting the reply of the City of London to the Declaration of Breda, he was knighted, in May 1660. He was appointed treasurer of poll-tax in September 1660. In 1661, he was common councilman again, warden of the Grocers’ Company, and vice president of the Honourable Artillery Company. He was also colonel in the blue regiment of militia of foot from March 1661 and was warden elect of the Grocers Company.

Vincent died before September 1661, at the age of about 46.

Vincent married first, by licence dated 7 June 1644, Rebecca Ferres, daughter of Thomas Ferrers, merchant of London. His second wife was Rebecca Chambers, daughter of Richard Chambers, Girdler of London. He had two sons and four daughters.