ADAMS, WILLIAM (_youngest son of Patience Thomas Adams of Bushey Grove, Herts, Filazer of Court of King’s Bench, who d. 2 May 1793, in his 57th year, by Martha only child of Thomas Marsh of London, she d. 19 Feb. 1795 in her 54th year_). _b._ 39 Hatton Garden, London 13 Jany. 1772; ed. at Tunbridge school; matriculated at Trinity Hall, Cam. 17 Dec. 1788; Fell. of his hall to 1803; contested the mastership, Dec. 1815; admitted to college of Advocates 4 Nov. 1799, lived there 1799–1811; one of the Comrs. to prepare tables of fees, and regulate practice of Vice Admiralty Courts abroad 14 Nov. 1811; Comr. to negociate and conclude a treaty of peace with United States 30 July 1814; Comr. of Inquiry into duties of Courts of Justice in England 9 Feb. 1815–1824; one of the Plenipotentiaries to treat of, and conclude a convention of commerce between Great Britain and United States, June 1815; one of Counsel for Queen Caroline’s divorce bill 6 July 1820; retired from practice, Sep. 1825; resided at Thorpe in Surrey 1836 to death. (_m._ (1) at Kensworth, Herts 31 Aug. 1803 Sarah dau. of Rev. Thomas Scott, R. of King’s Stanley, Gloucs, she _d._ 3 Feb. 1806. _m._ (2) at Marylebone church 6 April 1811 Mary Anne 3 dau. of Hon. W. Cockayne of Rushton hall, Northamptonshire, she was raised by patent to the rank of a Viscount’s daughter 4 September 1831, she _died_ 16 June 1873). _d._ Thorpe, Surrey 11 June 1851. _bur._ Thorpe churchyard 17 June. _G.M. xxxvi_, 197–200 (1851). ADAMS, WILLIAM. Member of firm of Hamilton, Adams & Co. publishers. _d._ The Limes, Clapham road 23 Feb. 1872 aged 75. ADAMS, WILLIAM BRIDGES. _b._ London 1797; a carriage builder in Long Acre; travelled over great part of Europe and America; pupil of John Farey civil engineer; invented the fish-joint for railway rails 1847, this joint is still universally used on railways; made many valuable improvements in rolling stock; manufactured railway plant at works at Bow, London but failed; patented improvements in carriages, in ship propulsion, guns and wood carving; took out no less than 32 patents; author of _English pleasure carriages_ 1837; _Railways and permanest way_ 1854; _Roads and Rails_ 1862, and of very many articles in scientific and technical periodicals; wrote several political pamphlets under the pseudonym of Junius Redivivus. (_m._ 1834 Sarah dau. of Benjamin Flower of Great Harlow, Essex, she was _b._ 22 Feb. 1805, wrote many poems and hymns, and _d._ Aug. 1848). _d._ Broadstairs 23 July 1872. _bur._ at St. Peters. _Engineering 26 July 1872 p._ 63. ADAMS, WILLIAM DACRES. _b._ 16 Dec. 1775; confidential sec. to William Pitt during his last administration May 1804 to Feb. 1806; a comr. of woods and forests 31 July 1810 to 23 Aug. 1834. _d._ Sydenham 8 June 1862.