William Betham (1779–1853)

Sir William Betham (1779–1853) was an Ulster-born officer of arms, genealogist, and antiquarian. He served as Ulster King of Arms from 1820 until his death. Betham was a prolific collector of genealogical information, amassing a vast collection of wills, administrations, and other records, primarily relating to Irish families.

Betham was born in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland, and was educated at Trinity College Dublin. He initially pursued a career in law before turning his attention to heraldry and genealogy. His appointment as Ulster King of Arms provided him with access to the official records of the office, which he used to further his research.

His extensive genealogical collections are now held in the Genealogical Office in Dublin, and they are a crucial resource for researchers studying Irish family history. However, Betham's work is not without controversy. He was known to reconstruct pedigrees and sometimes incorporated questionable or even invented information to "complete" family trees. Therefore, his compilations must be used with caution and cross-referenced with other sources. Despite these caveats, Betham's immense collection remains a valuable and frequently consulted resource for Irish genealogical research.

Betham was knighted in 1830. He died in Dublin in 1853.