John Ernest Greaves

John Ernest Greaves (1847–1945) was a wealthy Welsh slate mine owner and Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire.

He was born at Tan-yr-allt, Tremadog, the son of John Whitehead Greaves, who had developed the slate industry in the area. He spent much of his childhood at Llechwedd, where his father had created the Llechwedd slate mine and was educated at schools in Warwickshire, Edinburgh and Dorset before going to Worcester College, Oxford.^[1] On his father's death he inherited a half share in the business and made his brother Richard the General Manager. They later turned the business into a limited company with himself as Chairman and his brother as Managing Director.^[2]

He was appointed High Sheriff of Merionethshire for 1884 and for Caernarvonshire for 1885. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for Caernarvonshire. In 1886 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire, the first commoner to hold the position, serving until 1933.^[3]

He had inherited the family home at Bron Eifiod, near Criccieth, but in 1893 also bought the Glan Gwna estate near Caernarfon, rebuilding the hall.^[2]

He was very involved in public affairs, including President of the North Wales branch of the NSPCC, Chairman of the Quarter Sessions and Alderman of Caernarvon County Council. He had a particular interest in nursing standards and from 1898 was on the Council of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses and was Chairman of the North Wales Nursing Association.^[3]

He died in 1945. He had married Marianne Steadman, with whom he had a daughter Dorothy. He left Glan Gwna to Dorothy's daughter, also Dorothy, who had married William Flower.^[3]

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