William Willett

William Willett
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Name	William Willett
Caption	William Willett, c. 1907
Birth date	10 August 1856
Birth place	Farnham, Surrey, England
Death date	4 March 1915 (aged 58)
Death place	Chislehurst, Kent, England
Occupation	Builder, Businessperson
Known for	Proposing daylight saving time
Spouse	Maria Mills, 1880

William Willett was a prominent British builder and tireless campaigner best known as the pioneering advocate for the adoption of daylight saving time (DST) in the United Kingdom. His proposal, detailed in his 1907 pamphlet "The Waste of Daylight," sought to adjust clocks seasonally to make better use of natural evening light. Although he faced significant public and political opposition during his lifetime, his concept was implemented shortly after his death during the First World War, and his legacy endures in the seasonal time changes observed by many nations today.

Early life and career

William Willett was born in Farnham, Surrey, into a family deeply involved in the building trade. He established himself as a successful and respected builder and property developer, operating primarily in the affluent areas of South London and Kent, including Chislehurst and Orpington. His company, Willett Building Services, was responsible for constructing numerous high-quality homes, and he became a well-known figure in local business circles. His professional success provided him with the financial independence and social standing that would later support his single-minded campaign for time reform. Willett was also a keen horseman and an avid golfer, passions that directly influenced his observations on the waste of morning daylight.

Campaign for daylight saving time

Willett's campaign began after he conceived the idea during an early morning ride in Petts Wood near his home in 1905, noting how many blinds were still drawn despite the sun being up. In 1907, he privately published and distributed his seminal pamphlet, "The Waste of Daylight," at his own expense. His original proposal was more complex than the eventual system, suggesting four separate twenty-minute advances of clocks each spring, and corresponding setbacks in the autumn, totaling an eighty-minute shift. He argued this would improve health, save on artificial lighting costs, and provide more time for outdoor leisure activities. Willett tirelessly lobbied MPs, including a young Winston Churchill who was an early supporter, and even secured the introduction of a Daylight Saving Bill in the House of Commons in 1908. Despite support from figures like David Lloyd George and King Edward VII, the proposal was met with fierce opposition from agricultural interests, scientists, and others, and the bill was repeatedly defeated.

Implementation and legacy

Although William Willett did not live to see his idea become law, the exigencies of the First World War provided the final impetus for its adoption. Facing severe coal shortages, the British government implemented daylight saving time in 1916 as a war effort measure to conserve fuel. The Summer Time Act 1916 established the simpler system of a one-hour advance for the summer months, a model soon followed by other combatant nations like Germany and the United States. Willett's legacy is the widespread, though sometimes controversial, practice of seasonal clock changes across many parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and Australasia. His advocacy is commemorated by a sundial memorial in Petts Wood and a road named Willett Way in London.

Personal life and death

In 1880, William Willett married Maria Mills, with whom he had seven children. The family lived at "The Cedars," a substantial home in Chislehurst, Kent, which reflected his professional success. His grandson, also named William Willett, would later become a notable architect. Willett continued his business and campaigning activities until his health declined. He contracted influenza during the winter of 1915, which led to complications, and he died of bronchitis at his home on 4 March 1915. He was buried in the churchyard of St Nicholas' Church, Chislehurst. His obituary in *The Times* noted his perseverance in the face of widespread ridicule for his clock-changing scheme, a reform that would be enacted just one year after his death.

Category:1856 births Category:1915 deaths Category:British businesspeople Category:People from Farnham Category:Daylight saving time