Sweet William

There are several suggestions as to how Dianthus Barbatus got its name of Sweet Wiliiam.
Generally it was believed to have been named by King George II after his brother Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, who led the British forces to defeat the Jacobites at the battle of Culloden in 1746. Other suggestions have been Saint William of York and William the Conqueror.   However it was mentioned long beforehand in a garden catalogue of 1596 and might have been named after William Shakespeare.  Other suggestions have been Saint William of York and William the Conqueror.
Whatever the origins it is an attractive flower in its various pink, red or white colours.