Rev. George Washington Williams was born on October 16, 1849, in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, to Thomas and Ellen Rouse Williams. He grew up in a modest household and demonstrated a passion for learning and service at a young age. He was the oldest of four children, and as a rebellious teenager, his parents placed him in a “House of Refuge” for undisciplined and unruly children. At just 14 years old, Williams enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War, under an assumed name because he was too young to meet the age requirement to enlist. 

After the war, his adventurous spirit led him to Mexico and joined the Republican Army under the command of General Espinosa, fighting to overthrow Emperor Maximilian.  Williams received a commission as lieutenant colonel in the Mexican Arm, learned some Spanish, and gained a reputation as a good gunner.

In the spring of 1867, he returned to the United States and enlisted in the army for a 5 year stint. But in 1868, Williams was wounded while in the Indian Territory. He remained hospitalized until his discharge.

Upon returning to the U.S., Williams pursued theological studies. He studied at Howard University and eventually earned admission to the Newton Theological Institution in Massachusetts. In 1874, he graduated as the first African-American student from the prestigious Newton Theological Institution (now housed at Yale Divinity School) and was ordained as a Baptist minister that same year.

Williams was examined by the council called by the Church of Watertown and was ordained June 11th.  By the time he was 25 years old, Williams had graduated, married Sarah A. Skerrett from Chicago, and became Pastor of Twelfth Baptist Church (TBC).  The initial invitation from TBC was to fill the pulpit for 8 months from September 1873 – May 1874, but during those months the church membership and prayer meeting attendance increased so substantially that Reverend Williams received the “Call” from TBC to take pastoral charge.

Williams became the leader of the flock on April 4, 1874 and was installed as the Second Ordained  Pastor on June 24, 1874. Williams served Twelfth Baptist Church from 1874 to 1876. During his tenure as pastor at TBC, Williams researched and wrote The History of the Twelfth Baptist Church.  Boston, Mass. 1840 1874; A History of Negro Troops in the War of Rebellion and The History of the Negro Race in America, 1619- 1880, an 80-page history of the church documenting its role as a sanctuary for escaped slaves and its contributions to the abolitionist movement. This historical record remains an invaluable resource for understanding the church’s impact and legacy. Although his time at Twelfth Baptist Church was relatively brief, Williams left an indelible mark on the congregation through his scholarship and oratory. 

After leaving Boston, he accepted a pastorate at Union Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.In Cincinnati, Williams's influence extended beyond the pulpit. He studied law under Alphonso Taft, father of future U.S. President William Howard Taft. In 1880, Williams was elected to the Ohio State Legislature, becoming the first African-American to serve in that role, serving one term from 1880-1881. While in office, he championed civil rights, education, and labor reforms.

Williams's most enduring legacy is his groundbreaking historical work, History of the Negro Race in America, 1619–1880, published in 1882. This two-volume masterpiece was one of the first comprehensive histories of African Americans. In the book, Williams meticulously chronicled the experiences of African Americans from the era of enslavement to the post-Reconstruction period, challenging contemporary racist narratives and establishing the foundation for future African-American historiography.

Later in life, Williams traveled to Africa to report on the atrocities in the Congo Free State under King Leopold II's regime. In 1889, Williams was granted an informal audience with King Leopold II of Belgium to express opposition to the brutal and inhumane treatment the Congolese suffered at the hands of the colonizers.  Despite the king’s objections, Williams went to Central Africa to see the conditions for himself.

In “An Open Letter to His Serene Majesty Leopold II, King of the Belgians and Sovereign of the Independent State of Congo”, Williams decried the conditions and appealed to the international community to conduct an investigation in the name of Humanity.

He became one of the first international voices to denounce the exploitation and abuses occurring in the Congo, publishing a scathing open letter that accused King Leopold of crimes against humanity.

Traveling back from Africa, Rev. George Washington Williams passed away in Blackpool, England, on August 2, 1891, at the age of 41, from tuberculosis and pleurisy.. His legacy endures as a scholar, minister, soldier, and advocate for justice. His works continue to inspire historians, theologians, and civil rights activists.