   general sir william fenwick williams, 1st baronet gcb (4 december 1800 &ndash; 26 july 1883) was a nova scotian and renowned military leader for the british during the victorian era. he is remembered for his gallant defence of the town of kars during the crimean war. he with other british officers inspired the poorly equipped turkish soldiers to repel russian attacks by general muravâev on the besieged town for three months causing 6,000 russian casualties. they were forced to surrender due to starvation, disease and shortage of ammunition. however they surrendered on their own terms with the officers being allowed to retain their swords. williams was imprisoned at ryazan but he was treated very well and released at the end of the crimean war in 1856. before returning home he was introduced to czar alexander ii. many other honours were bestowed upon sir william and it was particularly fitting that in 1865-7, he was appointed the first lieutenant governor of nova scotia, where he had been born at the turn of the 19th century. the portrait by william gush was painted for the parliament house, halifax, nova scotia and hangs to this day in province house, halifax. ==early life=
1800_births 1883_deaths Baronets_in_the_Baronetage_of_the_United_Kingdom British_Army_generals British_Army_personnel_of_the_Crimean_War British_prisoners_of_war Burials_at_Brompton_Cemetery Canadian_people_of_English_descent Governors_of_Gibraltar Knights_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath Liberal_Party_(UK)_MPs Lieutenant_Governors_of_Nova_Scotia Lord-Lieutenants_of_the_Tower_Hamlets Members_of_the_Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom_for_English_constituencies People_from_Annapolis_County,_Nova_Scotia People_from_Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Pre-Confederation_Nova_Scotia_people UK_MPs_1852a57 UK_MPs_1857a59