Charlotte Williams-Wynn

Charlotte, Lady Williams-Wynn (née Grenville; circa 1754 – 29 September 1830), was a member of the British aristocracy. She was born in Llanforda, Oswestry, as the eldest child of Prime Minister George Grenville and his wife Elizabeth Wyndham. Elizabeth Wyndham was the daughter of Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Baronet, a prominent Tory statesman. Charlotte was a first cousin of Prime Minister William Pitt through her paternal aunt, Hester Grenville, who was married to William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham.

Her parents died within a short period, with her mother passing in 1769 and her father in 1770. Following their deaths, her guardianship was assumed by George Grenville’s elder brother, Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple.

On 21 December 1771, Charlotte married Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Baronet, as his second wife. Subsequently, she was known as Lady Williams-Wynn. Sir Watkin was the eldest son of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 3rd Baronet, and his second wife, Frances Shackerley of Cheshire. The marriage produced eight children, six of whom survived into adulthood:

- Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 5th Baronet (1772–1840), married Lady Henrietta Antonia Clive, daughter of Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis, in 1817.

- Frances Williams-Wynn (1773–1857), who remained unmarried. Her political diaries were published posthumously in 1864.

- Charlotte Williams-Wynn (1775–1819), married Lt-Col William Shipley, MP for Flint Boroughs and St Mawes. He was the son of Very Rev. William Davies Shipley.

- Charles Williams-Wynn (1775–1850), married Mary Cunliffe, daughter of Sir Foster Cunliffe, 3rd Baronet, and Harriet Kinloch, in 1806.

- Henrietta Elizabeth Williams-Wynn (1780–1852), married Thomas Cholmondeley, 1st Baron Delamere of Vale Royal.

- Sir Henry Williams-Wynn (1783–1856), married Hon. Hester Frances Smith, daughter of Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington, in 1813.

Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, her husband, died on 24 July 1789. After his death, Lady Williams-Wynn became the sole administrator of his Welsh estates, managing them until her eldest son reached the age of majority. In her later years, she resided at Upper Brook Street in Mayfair, living with her youngest daughter, Lady Delamere.

Sources for her life include records associated with her family, her diaries, and artifacts held by institutions such as the Amgueddfa Cymru and the British Museum.