Sir T. Marchant Williams, as he will be known henceforth, was born at Trecynon, and commenced his career as a pupil teacher as the famous Ysgol Comin, the nursery of so many brilliant sons of Aberdare, who have reflected honour on the old town, such as Judge Gwilym Williams, Mr Rhys Williams, registrar, Messrs. Gomer Jones, B.A., and John Rees, inspectors of schools. Mr. Tom John, president elect of the N.U.T., and many others. He was reared under the care of the late Mr Dan Issac Davies of national fame.

After serving his time as pupil teacher, he proceeded to the Bangor Normal College. At the termination of his college career, he was appointed to the headship of a school at Bangor, and subsequently to another school as Amlwch. Afterwards he obtained an important position on a secondary school in Yorkshire, during which time he obtained his B.A. Finally, he received an important and responsible position of inspector of schools in the Metropolitan area.

At this period in his life, he began to study law with the result that he finally abandoned the scholastic for the legal profession. In 1885 he was called to the Bar and joined the South Wales Circuit. He was afterwards occupied the post of clerk of arraigns, which office he held when he was appointed by the Home Secretary to the Stipendiary of Merthyr and Aberdare as successor to Mr. North.