William Albert Jenkins
Encyclopedia
William Albert Jenkins was a Welsh coal exporter and ship owner and Liberal
politician.
the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Jenkins. In 1906 he married Beatrice Tyler of Pirbright
in Surrey
. His wife died in 1967.
where he acquired a thorough knowledge of the coal and shipping trades. He later set up his own business W A Jenkins & Co, wholesale coal and coke factors
and shipbrokers. His business expanded greatly during World War One. He served for some years as President of the Swansea Chamber of Trade
and was Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.
as a National Liberal
. He may not have sat in the 1918-1922 Parliament but his support for Lloyd George
at this time and his industrial success between 1914-1918 perhaps qualified him as ‘one of the hard-faced men who look as if they had done well out of the war’ in Stanley Baldwin
’s famous phrase. Jenkins was elected to represent Breconshire and Radnorshire which he won in a straight fight with Labour
. At the 1923 general election
he was returned unopposed as a Liberal (without suffix or prefix) for the same seat but in 1924
he faced a three-cornered contest against Labour and Conservative
opposition and he lost the seat to the Tories. During his time in Parliament, Jenkins was a contributor to debates concerning industrial questions and Welsh issues. He did not fight again a Parliamentary election again until 1936 when he stood as the candidate of the National Government with the support of the local Liberal and Conservative parties under the description National Liberal
at a by-election in Llanelly
. He did not win the seat however which was held for Labour by Jim Griffiths
the president of the South Wales Miners' Federation
with a majority of 16,221 votes, virtually unchanged since the 1935 general election
.
of Swansea between 1947 and 1949. In 1928 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace
for the County of Glamorgan
and was sometime Chairman of the Bench of Magistrates, Gower Petty sessional division
. He was a member of the Court of Governors and Council of University College, Swansea.
was announced in the New Year Honours List of 1938 He was also awarded the Borough of Swansea Order of St John Council
. Jenkins also qualified for a number of foreign decorations. In 1933 he became a Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Dannebrog
(Denmark); a holder of the Gold Cross Royal Order of George I of Greece, (1938) and was Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (France) in 1949.
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...
politician.
Family
Jenkins was born in SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Jenkins. In 1906 he married Beatrice Tyler of Pirbright
Pirbright
Pirbright is a village in Surrey, England. Neighbouring villages include Worplesdon, Deepcut, Brookwood and Normandy. Pirbright parish has an area of some falling into two distinct communities with the military area to the north of the railway and the village to the south...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. His wife died in 1967.
Career
At the age of 13 years, Jenkins went to work as an office boy in the Swansea docksSwansea docks
Swansea Docks is the collective name for several docks in Swansea, Wales. The Swansea docks are located immediately south east of Swansea city centre. In the mid-19th century the port was exporting 60% of the world's copper from factories situated in the Tawe valley...
where he acquired a thorough knowledge of the coal and shipping trades. He later set up his own business W A Jenkins & Co, wholesale coal and coke factors
Factor (agent)
A factor, from the Latin "he who does" , is a person who professionally acts as the representative of another individual or other legal entity, historically with his seat at a factory , notably in the following contexts:-Mercantile factor:In a relatively large company, there could be a hierarchy,...
and shipbrokers. His business expanded greatly during World War One. He served for some years as President of the Swansea Chamber of Trade
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and was Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.
Parliament
Jenkins was first elected to Parliament at the 1922 general electionUnited 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...
as a National Liberal
National Liberal Party (UK, 1922)
The National Liberal Party was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1922 to 1923. It was led by David Lloyd George and was, at the time, separate to the original Liberal Party.-History:...
. He may not have sat in the 1918-1922 Parliament but his support for Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
at this time and his industrial success between 1914-1918 perhaps qualified him as ‘one of the hard-faced men who look as if they had done well out of the war’ in Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
’s famous phrase. Jenkins was elected to represent Breconshire and Radnorshire which he won in a straight fight with Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. At the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
he was returned unopposed as a Liberal (without suffix or prefix) for the same seat but in 1924
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
he faced a three-cornered contest against Labour and Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
opposition and he lost the seat to the Tories. During his time in Parliament, Jenkins was a contributor to debates concerning industrial questions and Welsh issues. He did not fight again a Parliamentary election again until 1936 when he stood as the candidate of the National Government with the support of the local Liberal and Conservative parties under the description National Liberal
National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)
The National Liberal Party, known until 1948 as the Liberal National Party, was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1931 to 1968...
at a by-election in Llanelly
Llanelli (UK Parliament constituency)
Llanelli is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1918 to 1970 the official spelling of the constituency name was Llanelly...
. He did not win the seat however which was held for Labour by Jim Griffiths
Jim Griffiths
James "Jim" Griffiths CH , was a Welsh Labour politician, trade union leader and the first ever Secretary of State for Wales.-Background and education:...
the president of the South Wales Miners' Federation
South Wales Miners' Federation
The South Wales Miners' Federation , nicknamed "The Fed", was a trade union for miners in South Wales.The union was founded on 24 October 1898, following the defeat of the South Wales miners' strike of 1898...
with a majority of 16,221 votes, virtually unchanged since the 1935 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
.
Local politics and public service
Jenkins sat as a member of Swansea Borough Council from 1927 to 1954 and served as MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Swansea between 1947 and 1949. In 1928 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the County of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
and was sometime Chairman of the Bench of Magistrates, Gower Petty sessional division
Petty sessional division
A petty sessional division was, in England and Wales, the area that a Magistrates' Court had jusridiction over. Petty sessional divisions were gradually consolidated in the 20th century , and were replaced by local justice areas in 2005.Petty sessional divisions were established under an Act of...
. He was a member of the Court of Governors and Council of University College, Swansea.
Other civic or public offices
During his long life, Jenkins held a number of other public positions including:- President of the South West Wales Savings Bank
- President of the Royal Welsh Agricultural SocietyRoyal Welsh ShowThe Royal Welsh Show is the biggest agricultural show in Europe. It is organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was formed in 1904, and takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales....
(1949) - President of the Swansea and Central Wales Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission
- President of the Deaf and Dumb Regional Association for Wales
Honours
Jenkins was knighted for political and public services and his award of a Knight BachelorKnight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
was announced in the New Year Honours List of 1938 He was also awarded the Borough of Swansea Order of St John Council
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. Jenkins also qualified for a number of foreign decorations. In 1933 he became a Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
(Denmark); a holder of the Gold Cross Royal Order of George I of Greece, (1938) and was Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (France) in 1949.