Sir William Williams , 1st Baronet , of Kars General Sir William Fenwick Williams , 1st Baronet GCB ( 4 December 1800 – 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 Murav ’ ev 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 . He was born in Annapolis Royal , Nova Scotia , the second son of Commissary - General Thomas Williams , barrack - master at Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada . He was however widely rumoured to be the natural son of Prince Edward , Duke of Kent and Strathearn ; this would make him Queen Victoria ' s half - brother . Williams never denied this but it is not thought to be true . Career . Williamse was educated at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich . He entered the Royal Artillery as second lieutenant in 1825 . His services were lent to Turkey in 1841 , and he was employed as a captain in the arsenal at Constantinople . He was British commissioner in the conferences preceding the treaty of Erzerum in 1847 , and again in the settlement of the Ottoman - Iranian boundary in 1848 ( brevet majority and lieutenant - colonelcy and CB ) . Crimean War . Promoted colonel , he was British commissioner with the Turkish army in Anatolia in the Crimean War ( Russian War ) of 1854 – 56 , and , having been made a pasha ( general / governor / lord ) with the degree of " ferik " ( major - general ) , he practically commanded the Turks during the defence of Kars , repulsing several Russian attacks by the Russian general Muravyov . Muravyov initially had planned a direct assault on the city but due to the ferocity of the Turkish soldiers decided to limit Russian losses by changing his strategy into the siege of Kars ( not to be confused with the Battle of Kars ) . The siege lasted five months . Cold , cholera , famine and hopelessness of succour from without , however , compelled Williams to make an honourable capitulation on 28 November 1855 . Williams had put up such an honorable defence of the city that Count Muravyov stated " General Williams , you have made yourself a name in history , and posterity will stand amazed at the endurance , courage and the discipline which the siege has called forth in the remains of the army . " A baronetcy with pension for life , the KCB , the grand cross of the Legion of Honour and of the Turkish Medjidie , the freedom of the City of London with a sword of honour , and the honorary degree of DCL of Oxford University , were the distinctions conferred upon him for his valour . Promoted major - general in November 1855 on his return from captivity in Russia , he held the Woolwich command , and represented the borough of Calne in parliament from 1856 to 1859 . In the lead up to the American Civil War , from 1859 to 1864 , he held the position of Commander in Chief , North America , and was responsible for preparations for war with the United States in the case that relations broke down . The most severe strain in relations occurring during the Trent Affair . He became lieutenant - general and colonel - commandant Royal Artillery in 1864 , general in 1868 , commanded the forces in Canada from 1859 to 1865 . Governorships . He held the governorship of Nova Scotia 1865 – 1867 . Post Canadian Confederation in 1867 , Williams was reappointed as the first Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and the governorship of Gibraltar from September 1870 to 1876 . He was made GCB in 1871 , and Constable of the Tower of London in 1881 . Later life . He died in a hotel in Pall Mall on 26 July 1883 and he was buried in Brompton Cemetery .