Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet

Frank Edwards, circa 1905.

Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet (28 April 1852 – 10 May 1927), commonly known as Frank Edwards, was a British Liberal Party politician.

Sir Francis was the fourth son of Edward Edwards of Llangollen. Educated at Shrewsbury School and Jesus College, Oxford (graduated 1875). Married in 1880 to Catherine, daughter of David Davis of Aberdare. The marriage had issue, one daughter.

He was elected Liberal Member of Parliament for Radnorshire in 1892. Edwards was a determined Liberal and a supporter of the Disestablishment of the Church in Wales, of which he was a member. In 1894, Edwards joined with David Lloyd George, David Alfred Thomas and Herbert Lewis in resigning the Liberal Whip in protest at the delay of the Government of Lord Rosebery in introducing a Welsh Disestablishment measure. He was a relative of Alfred George Edwards, Bishop of St. Asaph, and first Archbishop of Wales.

Defeated in 1895, Edwards was to play no part in the struggle to unite Welsh Liberalism under the auspices of Cymru Fydd. Edwards appears to have been viewed as under the ‘baleful’ influence of David Alfred Thomas by Lloyd George and Herbert Lewis. In 1898, he was High Sheriff of the County. In 1900, Edwards fought Radnorshire on a platform of opposition to the Boer War and returned to parliament.

He was created baronet of Knighton in the County of Radnor on 25 July 1907.[1]

Francis Edwards published a volume of Welsh poetry entitled 'Translations from the Welsh' in 1913. He did not stand in 1918, the Radnorshire Constituency having been amalgamated with Brecon.

Edwards served as Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Radnorshire.

Election results

General Election 1900 Radnorshire[2] Electorate 5,219
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Francis Edwards 2,082 52.1 +
Conservative Charles Leyshon Dillwyn-Venables-Llewellyn 1,916 47.9 –
Majority 166 4.2
Turnout 3998 76.6
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +
General Election 1906 Radnorshire[3] Electorate 5,466
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Francis Edwards 2,187 52.1 +0.0
Conservative Charles Leyshon Dillwyn-Venables-Llewellyn 2,013 47.9 -0.0
Majority 174 4.2 0.0
Turnout 4,200 76.8 +0.2
Liberal hold Swing +0.0
General Election January 1910 Radnorshire[4] Electorate 5,971
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Charles Leyshon Dillwyn-Venables-Llewellyn 2,222 50.2 +2.3
Liberal Sir Francis Edwards 2,208 49.8 -2.3
Majority 14 0.4 4.6
Turnout 4,430 74.2 -2.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +2.3
General Election December 1910 Radnorshire[5] Electorate 5,971
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Sir Francis Edwards 2,224 50.5 +0.7
Conservative Charles Leyshon Dillwyn-Venables-Llewellyn 2,182 49.5 -0.7
Majority 42 1.0 1.4
Turnout 4,406 73.8 -0.4
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +0.7

References

  1. ↑ "No. 28040". The London Gazette. 16 July 1907. p. 4858.
  2. ↑ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  3. ↑ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  4. ↑ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  5. ↑ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Arthur Henry John Walsh		 Member of Parliament for Radnorshire
1892–1895 		Succeeded by
Sir Powlett Milbank
Preceded by
Sir Powlett Milbank		 Member of Parliament for Radnorshire
1900 – January 1910 		Succeeded by
Sir Charles Dillwyn-Venables-Llewelyn
Preceded by
Sir Charles Dillwyn-Venables-Llewelyn		 Member of Parliament for Radnorshire
December 1910 – 1918 		Succeeded by
Sidney Robinson
(for Brecon & Radnor)
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
(of Knighton)
1907–1927 		Extinct

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