Sir William Molesworth, 8th Baronet

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Right Honourable Sir William Molesworth Bt
Portrait by John Watson Gordon, 1854
First Commissioner of Works
In office 5 January 1853 – 30 January 1855
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	The Earl of Aberdeen
Preceded by	Lord John Manners
Succeeded by	Sir Benjamin Hall, Bt
Secretary of State for the Colonies
In office 21 July 1855 – 22 October 1855
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	The Viscount Palmerston
Preceded by	Lord John Russell
Succeeded by	Henry Labouchere
Personal details
Born	23 May 1810 (1810-05-23) London
Died	22 October 1855 (1855-10-23) (aged 45)
Nationality	British
Political party	Radical
Alma mater	University of Cambridge

Sir William Molesworth, 8th Baronet, PC (23 May 1810 – 22 October 1855) was a Radical British politician, who served in the coalition cabinet of The Earl of Aberdeen from 1853 until his death in 1855 as First Commissioner of Works and then Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Much later, when justifying to the Queen his own new appointments, Gladstone told her: "For instance, even in Ld Aberdeen's Govt, in 52, Sir William Molesworth had been selected, at that time, a very advanced Radical, but who was perfectly harmless, & took little, or no part... He said these people generally became very moderate, when they were in office", which she admitted had been the case.^[2]