George Williams (YMCA) later merged into Concordia University, with its former campus retaining the name Sir George Williams Campus. George Williams (YMCA) Sir George Williams (11 October 18216 November 1905) was an English philanthropist and founder of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). The oldest and largest youth charity in the world, its aim is to support young people to belong, contribute and thrive in their communities. Williams was born on a farm in Dulverton, Somerset, England and baptized into the Church of England. As a young man, he described himself as a "careless, thoughtless, godless, swearing young fellow". After an accident, his
George Augustus Williams U.K. census was taken, after which his daughter, named Caroline also, became his housekeeper, foregoing marriage to take care of her father. He died forty years later at the age of 87 on 26 May 1901 in Barnes, London. George married Caroline Smith (b. 1814), the daughter of Abraham and Charlotte Smith, on 19 February 1835 at St. Pancras Church in Camden, London. They had five children. George Augustus Williams was born into an artist family that is sometimes referred to as the Barnes School. His father and five surviving brothers (listed below) were all noted Victorian landscape painters. Three