Sir Robert Thomas, 1st Baronet

Sir Robert Thomas

Sir Robert John Thomas, 1st Baronet (23 April 1873 – 27 September 1951) was a Welsh businessman and Liberal Party politician, who was twice elected to Parliament.

Thomas was a ship and insurance broker.[1] In 1918 he was created a Baronet, of Garreglwyd in the County of Anglesey.[2][3]

Politics

He was elected at the 1918 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the new constituency of Wrexham. Standing as a Liberal, with the official backing of the David Lloyd George led Coalition Government, he faced only a Labour Party opponent and won 76% of the votes.

General Election 1918: Wrexham [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Sir Robert John Thomas 20,874 76.3 n/a
Labour Hugh Hughes 6,500 23.7 n/a
Majority 14,374 52.6 n/a
Turnout 69.7 n/a
Liberal win

At the 1922 general election he stood as a National Liberal Party candidate for Anglesey, losing by a margin of 9% to the sitting Labour MP Sir Owen Thomas.

1922 General Election: Anglesey[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Sir Owen Thomas 11,929 54.2 +3.8
National Liberal Sir Robert John Thomas 10,067 45.8 -3.8
Majority 1,862 8.4 +7.6
Turnout 80.5
Labour hold Swing -3.8

However, Owen Thomas died in January 1923, and at the resulting by-election in April Robert Thomas won a 3-way contest with 53% of the votes, and a 23% majority over the second-placed Labour candidate.[6]

Anglesey by-election, 1923 [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Sir Robert John Thomas 11,116 53.3 +7.5
Labour Edward Thomas John 6,368 30.5 -23.7
Unionist Richard Owen Roberts 3,385 16.2 n/a
Majority 22.8
Turnout 76.4
Liberal gain from Labour Swing +15.6

He was returned unopposed at the general election in December 1923. He was returned by a majority of 28% over his Labour opponent at the election in 1924.

General Election 1924: Anglesey[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Sir Robert John Thomas 13,407 63.9
Labour Cyril O Jones 7,580 36.1
Majority 5,827 27.8
Turnout 74
Liberal hold Swing

He stood down from Parliament at the 1929 general election.

References

  1. Kidd, Charles; Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
  2. "No. 30876". The London Gazette. 30 August 1918. p. 10173.
  3. Leigh Rayment's list of baronets
  4. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  5. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  6. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  7. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  8. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949

Further reading

Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member of Parliament for Wrexham
19181922
Succeeded by
Robert Richards
Preceded by
Sir Owen Thomas
Member of Parliament for Anglesey
19231929
Succeeded by
Megan Lloyd George
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
(of Garreglwyd)
1918 – 1951
Succeeded by
William Eustace Rhyddlad Thomas


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