John Edwards (Welsh politician)
Encyclopedia
John Edwards (1882 – 23 May 1960) was a British
politician
. He was a Coalition Liberal
Member of Parliament
(MP) from 1918 to 1922.
At the time of his election to Parliament, Edwards was described as a schoolmaster who had served four years in the Army during the First World War, reaching the rank of Major and seeing much active service. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1918 general election
for the Welsh
constituency of Aberavon
. He served only one term in Parliament before being defeated at the 1922 general election
. Ramsay MacDonald
, who served as Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister
, replaced him as Aberavon's MP. Edwards died in 1960 aged 77.
, near Aberystwyth
, the son of the Reverend James Edwards and his wife Rachel (née Jones). When he was still young the family moved to his mother's home town of Neath
and he was educated at the British and Intermediate Schools in the town. He later went to University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and the University of London
. In 1932, he married Gwen Bryan and they had two sons and a daughter.
earning the Distinguished Service Order
in 1918 and being twice mentioned in despatches. According to one source he attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Edwards also trained for the law and in 1921 he was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn
.
seat at the 1923 general election
but in a tight contest, with three candidates each getting about one third of the vote, he finished bottom of the poll. He did not stand for Parliament again.
of Cardinganshire
in 1942. He also served as a member of the Court of the University of Wales
and the Court and Council of the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was a Coalition Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) from 1918 to 1922.
At the time of his election to Parliament, Edwards was described as a schoolmaster who had served four years in the Army during the First World War, reaching the rank of Major and seeing much active service. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
for the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
constituency of Aberavon
Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberavon is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returns one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system.-History:...
. He served only one term in Parliament before being defeated at the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
. Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
, who served as Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, replaced him as Aberavon's MP. Edwards died in 1960 aged 77.
Family and education
Edwards was born at LlanbardarnLlanbadarn Fawr
Llanbadarn Fawr is an urbanised village and community in Ceredigion, Wales. It is located on the outskirts of Aberystwyth situated next to Penparcau and Southgate. It forms the eastern part of the continually built-up area of Aberystwyth...
, near Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, the son of the Reverend James Edwards and his wife Rachel (née Jones). When he was still young the family moved to his mother's home town of Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
and he was educated at the British and Intermediate Schools in the town. He later went to University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. In 1932, he married Gwen Bryan and they had two sons and a daughter.
Career
During the First World War, Edwards joined the Royal Welch FusiliersRoyal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
earning the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1918 and being twice mentioned in despatches. According to one source he attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Edwards also trained for the law and in 1921 he was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
Politics
After his defeat at Aberavon in 1922,Edwards sought re-election to the House of Commons as an Independent Liberal for the University of WalesUniversity of Wales (UK Parliament constituency)
University of Wales was a university constituency electing one member to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, from 1918 to 1950. It returned one Member of Parliament , elected under the first-past-the-post voting system....
seat at the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
but in a tight contest, with three candidates each getting about one third of the vote, he finished bottom of the poll. He did not stand for Parliament again.
Other public appointments
Edwards was appointed a High SheriffHigh Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Cardinganshire
High Sheriff of Cardiganshire
The office of High Sheriff of Cardiganshire was established in 1541 since when a High Sheriff was appointed annually until 1974 when the office was transformed into that of High Sheriff of Dyfed as part of the creation of Dyfed from the amalgamation of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire...
in 1942. He also served as a member of the Court of the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
and the Court and Council of the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth.