W. Llewelyn Williams

For other people named William Williams, see William Williams (disambiguation).
Llewelyn Williams, circa 1905.

William Llewelyn Williams known as Llewelyn Williams (10 March 1867 – 22 April 1922), was a Welsh journalist, lawyer and radical Liberal Party politician.

Background

He was born at Brownhill Llansadwrn, Towy Valley, Carmarthenshire; a memorial plaque was erected in front of the house in 1938. Born into a well-off Congregationalist family, William Llewelyn Williams was educated at Llandovery College and Brasenose College, Oxford University. At Oxford he was a founder member of the Dafydd ap Gwilym Society with O. M. Edwards.

Journalism

On his return to Wales, he became a journalist, editing the South Wales Star at Barry, then the South Wales Post at Swansea. He spent some time on the staff of the South Wales Daily Post, Cardiff, and the Star of London. He wrote a couple of short stories in Welsh, neither of any real quality. Other work for the Cymmrodorion was later published in book form in 1919 as The Making of Modern Wales. He was not a professional, and saw Welsh history more in terms of Welsh Nationalism than an objective account of the past. Accordingly, he refused to accept the evidence of Iolo Morgannwg's forgeries.

Law

From journalism, Williams turned to the law, being called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn in 1897. He took silk in 1912 and led the South Wales Circuit. He was Recorder of Swansea 1912–1915 and Recorder of Cardiff 1915–1922.

Welsh nationalism

Llewelyn Williams set up the first branch of Cymru Fydd in Barry in 1891. He was later appointed the movement's South Wales Organiser by David Lloyd George. Additionally, he was heavily involved in the struggle to secure the Disestablishment of the Church in Wales.

Liberal party

Williams put his name forward for several Parliamentary seats, being mentioned as a possible candidate for Cardiganshire in 1895, when he lost out to Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies. At the 1906 general election, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Carmarthen District.

A convinced new Liberal who supported the social reforms of the Liberal government of 1906–14, Williams was opposed to Socialism.

Having opposed the Boer War, Llewelyn Williams only reluctantly supported the Great War after the German attack on Belgium. He opposed Liberal Prime Minister H. H. Asquith over conscription in 1916, supporting the rights of conscientious objectors and opposing the Defence of the Realm Act. However, when Lloyd George took over as Prime Minister, Williams sided with Asquith.[1] Williams held his seat until it was abolished in Boundary Changes in 1918. He did not contest the 1918 General elections. In 1921, Williams fought the Cardiganshire by-election, 1921 as an anti-Coalition Liberal, opposing Ernest Evans, Lloyd George's Private Secretary, the Coalition candidate.

Although he lost, Williams performed well and was generally felt to have won a moral victory, forcing Evans to rely on Conservative votes for his election.

One of his last actions was to write a letter to Lloyd George attempting reconciliation.

Election results

General Election 1906 Carmarthen Boroughs[2]

Electorate 6,258

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Llewelyn Williams 3,902 68.3
Liberal Unionist Hon. Vere Brabazon Ponsonby 1,808 31.7
Majority 2,094 36.6
Turnout 91.2
Liberal hold Swing
General Election January 1910: Carmarthen Boroughs[3]

Electorate 6,772

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Llewelyn Williams 4,197 68.1
Liberal Unionist Viscount Tiverton 1,965 31.9
Majority 2,232 36.2
Turnout 91.0
Liberal hold Swing

General Election December 1910 Liberal: William Llewelyn Williams elected unopposed.

Carmarthen District by-election, 1912[4]

Electorate 7,279

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Llewelyn Williams 3,836 58.6 -9.5
Conservative Henry Coulson Bond 2,555 39.1 +7.2
Independent Labour F G Vivian 149 2.3 n/a
Majority 1,281 19.5 16.7
Turnout 89.8
Liberal hold Swing -8.3
Cardiganshire by-election, 1921
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Coalition Liberal Ernest Evans 14,111 57.3
Liberal William Llewelyn Williams 10,521 42.7
Majority 3,590 14.6
Coalition Liberal hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ The Downfall of the Liberal Party by Trevor Wilson
  2. ↑ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  3. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
  4. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Alfred Davies		 Member of Parliament for Carmarthen District
1906–1918 		Succeeded by
John Hinds
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