David Jones (Carmarthenshire MP)

David Jones (1 November 1810 – 1 July 1869) was a Welsh banker and Conservative Party politician.

David Jones
Member of Parliament for Carmarthenshire
In office 9 April 1852 – 27 November 1868 Serving with David Saunders Davies (1852–1857) David Pugh (1857–1868)
Preceded by	George Rice-Trevor David Saunders Davies
Succeeded by	Edward Sartoris John Jones
Personal details
Born	1 November 1810 Llwynberllan, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Died	1 July 1869 (aged 58) Pantglas, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Nationality	Welsh
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Margaret Campbell ​ ​ (m. 1845⁠–⁠1869)​
Children	4

Early life

Born in Llwynberllan near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, he was the eldest son of John and Mary Jones and was educated at Charterhouse School.[1] He married Margaret Charlotte Campbell, daughter of Sir George Campbell, 4th Baronet in 1845. They made their home at Glanebrane Park, Llandovery and had 2 daughters and 2 sons.[2][3] He held the office of High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1845 and was a deputy lieutenant for Breconshire, Carmarthenshire and Radnorshire.[1][2]

Banking

His grandfather, also David Jones, had established a bank in Llandovery in 1799, and on his death in 1839 the business passed to David and his two younger brothers, William and John. The brothers expanded the bank as David Jones & Company.[1] In about 1850 Jones purchased the 7,854 acre estate of Pantglas, Llanfynydd and built a large house there at the considerable cost of £30,000. The Italianate mansion had a central tower and classical colonnades and a top-lit hall with large mahogany staircase.[1][4]

Member of parliament

In April 1852 the Hon. George Rice-Trevor, one of two members of parliament for the County of Carmarthenshire, succeeded his father as Baron Dynevor. This led to a vacancy, and Jones was chosen to defend the seat for the Conservatives. As the only candidate he was elected unopposed to the House of Commons on 13 May.[5] He held the seat for 16 years, being returned at each general election without opposition.[6][7]

At a time when the parliamentary representation Carmarthenshire was largely dependent on informal agreements between prominent local landowners to avoid contested elections much emphasis was placed upon appealing to a broad range of what was regarded as 'moderate' opinion. Jones's address to the electors when seeking re-election in 1857 reflects this as he declared that "I shall, if re-elected, be prepared to give my independent, but not indiscriminate, support to any Government which shall bring forward measures that may appear to me likely to promote the common welfare."[8] Nominating Jones at Carmarthen shortly after, W.R.H. Powell of Maesgwynne declared that "they no longer saw the red and blue flags unfurled, which to his mind was an evidence that party feeling was dying out in the country".[9]

Death

By 1868 Jones was in ill-health, and decided not to contest the general election. His seat was held by his younger brother, John.[1] He died at Pantglas in July 1869,[10] and was buried in the family vault at Cilycwm Church.[1]

References

1. Baker-Jones, D L (1975). "Pantglas and the Jones Families". The Carmarthenshire Historian. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
2. "No. 20439". The London Gazette. 4 February 1845. pp. 315–316.
3. Thomas, Nicholas (1872). Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales. London: Longmans Green. p. 292.
4. "Pantglas". The DiCamillo Campanion Database of Houses. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
5. "Election Intelligence. Carmarthenshire Election". The Times. 17 May 1852. p. 3.
6. "The Elections". The Times. 2 April 1857. p. 7.
7. "Election Intelligence". The Times. 11 April 1859. p. 10.
8. "Editorial". Welshman. 13 March 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
9. "Carmarthenshire Election". Welshman. 3 April 1857. p. 6. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
10. "Deaths". Western Mail. Cardiff. 6 July 1869.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by David Jones
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs