WILLIAMS, John Joseph, R. C. archbishop, born in Boston, Massachusetts, 27 April, 1822. He studied in his native city, and in 1833-'41 at the College of Montreal, where he was graduated in the latter year. He then followed a course in theology in the Sulpitina seminary in Paris, France, where he was ordained in 1845. He was stationed at the Boston cathedral till 1855, when he was appointed its rector, and in 1857 he was transferred to the pastorate of St. James's church in the same city. In 9 January, 1866, he was chosen coadjutor to Bishop Fitzpatrick and titular bishop of Tripoli, but before his consecration, which took place on 11 March, 1866, he had succeeded to the bishopric of Boston by the death of his superior. The new sees of Springfield and Providence were created from his original diocese in 1870 and 1872, respectively, and on 12 February, 1875, a new ecclesiastic province was established, embracing these dioceses and those of Portland and Burlington. Boston became the archiepiscopal see, and Bishop Williams was made archbishop, receiving the pallium from the hands of Archbishop McCloskey. During his administration many educational institutions have been established, of which the most important is the Sulpitian theological seminary, which was opened in i884. In 1886 his diocese contained 320,000 Roman Catholics, 300 priests, and 167 churches.