William Wollaston was a notable English lawyer and Whig politician whose contributions to the political landscape of his time were significant. He was the second son of Reverend William Wollaston, a philosopher known for his work 'The Religion of Nature Delineated', and Catherine Charlton. Wollaston's educational journey began at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and continued at King's College, where he was awarded a B.A. in 1714. His legal career commenced with his admission to the Inner Temple in 1709 and his call to the bar in 1715. 

In 1728, Wollaston married Elizabeth Fauquier, strengthening ties with influential circles, as she was the daughter of John Francis Fauquier, a deputy master of the mint and director of the Bank of England. The year following his marriage, Wollaston inherited the manor of Finborough from his elder brother, marking the beginning of a period of both personal and professional growth. 

His political career took a significant turn when he was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Ipswich at a by-election on the 29th January 1733. His tenure in the House of Commons was marked by his support for the government, particularly evident in his role as a trustee of the Georgia Society from March 1734 and his votes in favour of the government on various issues, including the Spanish convention in 1739. However, his unexpected departure from a parliamentary session in 1739, during a petition for a grant for Georgia, remains a curious incident in his otherwise consistent political stance.

Wollaston did not stand for re-election in the 1741 British general election, marking the end of his active political involvement. His legacy, however, extended beyond his lifetime through his descendants. He and Elizabeth had five sons and three daughters, with their son William also serving as MP for Ipswich. Their third son, Frederick, became a prebendary of Peterborough Cathedral, and their daughter Catherine married Edward Bourchier, vicar of All Saints' Church, Hertford.

William Wollaston's life was one of intellect, influence, and integration into the fabric of 18th-century British society. His death on the 20th June 1757, closed the chapter on a life that had been lived amidst the ebb and flow of political and social change, leaving behind a family that would continue to shape British history in their own ways. His presence is immortalised in the painting 'William Wollaston and his Family in a Grand Interior' by William Hogarth, a testament to his status and the era he lived in.

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Burial: 26 Jun 1757