Caernarvon Boroughs by-election, 1890
Encyclopedia
The Caernarvon Boroughs by-election, 1890 was a parliamentary by-election
held on 10 April 1890 for the British House of Commons
constituency
of Caernarvon Boroughs.
1. The Liberal Party candidate, David Lloyd George
(17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was a local solicitor from Criccieth (one of the six boroughs in the district). In 1890 he was an ambitious young man, whose political and legal work had made him well known in all parts of the constituency. He had become an Alderman
of Caernarvonshire County Council, when it was established in 1889.
Subsequent to the by-election Lloyd George had a long and distinguished political career. He served in many high offices, notably as Chancellor of the Exchequer
1908-1915 and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1916-1922. He led the Liberal Party, after the retirement of Herbert Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, from 1926 to 1931. Lloyd George continued to represent the Boroughs from 1890 until he was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor
in January 1945.
2. Representing the Conservative Party was a local landowner, the squire of Llanystumdwy
, Ellis Nanney. He was a popular figure locally, but his health was poor and he was a reluctant candidate. Nanney had previously contested the county seats of Caernarvonshire
in 1880 and Eifion
in 1885. After the by-election he contested Caernarvon Boroughs again in the 1895 general election.
The area had a reputation, since 1832, as a middle of the road constituency. It was not known as a particularly radical seat. However, since the extension of the franchise in 1885, most parts of Wales had become more supportive of the Liberal Party. Liberal support tended to be associated with religious nonconformity and the Conservative voters were more likely to be Anglican in religion.
Lloyd George had a strong political appeal to his fellow nonconformists. He had become well known by taking up high profile legal actions, addressing nonconformist grievances. By the standards of the era, David Lloyd George was a Welsh nationalist. Lloyd George hoped to use the national issue to appeal beyond his nonconformist base. However this issue was more popular in South Wales than in the north. The North Wales Liberal Federation was hesitant over Home Rule for Wales. Tom Ellis
thought Lloyd George's support for it reduced his majority at the by-election.
In January 1889, the local Liberal Association selected Lloyd George as their prospective Parliamentary candidate. His rival for the selection, Arthur Humphreys-Owen
, had called Lloyd George "a second rate country attorney". The MP for the Caernarvonshire county division of Arfon
(William Rathbone
) thought that Lloyd George's nomination would lead to the loss of the seat.
When the by-election was called the Conservative Party had difficulty finding a candidate. A number of possible local nominees (including the eventual candidate Ellis Nanney) declined the chance to contest the seat. It seemed that an outside barrister would be selected, but this possibility came to nothing, as the local Tories would not promise support in the following general election. Eventually Nanney was persuaded to contest the seat.
Lloyd George secured funding of about £250, for the by-election, from a local Methodist.
Lloyd George issued an election address, on 24 March 1890, in which he supported the standard Gladstonian position on Irish Home Rule but devoted more space to Welsh grievances.
As a campaign tactic, Conservative speakers contrasted the local focus of Nanney, with the scale of Lloyd George's talents and national interests. A contrast was drawn between the wealthy Tory landowner and the Liberal from a lower social strata.
Lloyd George, demonstrating his considerable oratorical skills, ridiculed the Conservative arguments. He pointed out that politics had moved on since the seventeenth century, so it was no longer sufficient for an MP just to be wealthy. In a long remembered phrase, the Liberal candidate referred to the age of the cottage bred candidate.
Lloyd George toured the constituency non stop, speaking in a different part of it each night.
The three smallest boroughs (Criccieth, Nevin and Pwllheli) were the most agricultural and strongly Liberal parts of the seat. In a close election, this support was to prove decisive for the Criccieth based candidate - Lloyd George. The Anglican cathedral city of Bangor was the most strongly Conservative part of the seat. Caernarvon itself and Conway were more doubtful and evenly divided towns.
The election count was tense, as it was soon apparent that the result would be close. At first it seemed Nanney would be elected, but it was found that a parcel of Liberal votes had been put in the wrong pile. Eventually David Lloyd George was declared elected by a margin of 18 votes.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on 10 April 1890 for the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Caernarvon Boroughs.
Previous MP
The seat had become vacant when the previous Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), Edmund Swetenham died. Swetenham (1822 – 19 March 1890) was a barrister, who had contested the seat in 1885 and been elected its MP in 1886.Candidates
Two candidates were nominated. The list below is set out in descending order of the number of votes received at the by-election.1. The Liberal Party candidate, David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
(17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was a local solicitor from Criccieth (one of the six boroughs in the district). In 1890 he was an ambitious young man, whose political and legal work had made him well known in all parts of the constituency. He had become an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Caernarvonshire County Council, when it was established in 1889.
Subsequent to the by-election Lloyd George had a long and distinguished political career. He served in many high offices, notably as Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
1908-1915 and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
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...
1916-1922. He led the Liberal Party, after the retirement of Herbert Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, from 1926 to 1931. Lloyd George continued to represent the Boroughs from 1890 until he was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor
Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor
Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1945 for the famous Liberal politician David Lloyd George. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1908 to 1915 and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922...
in January 1945.
2. Representing the Conservative Party was a local landowner, the squire of Llanystumdwy
Llanystumdwy
Llanystumdwy is a village and community on the Llŷn Peninsula of Gwynedd in Wales, although it is not regarded as being part of Llŷn, but belonging instead to the local region of Eifionydd...
, Ellis Nanney. He was a popular figure locally, but his health was poor and he was a reluctant candidate. Nanney had previously contested the county seats of Caernarvonshire
Caernarvonshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Caernarvonshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885 and from 1918 until 1950. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post...
in 1880 and Eifion
Eifion (UK Parliament constituency)
Eifion was a parliamentary constituency in Caernarfonshire, Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.-History:...
in 1885. After the by-election he contested Caernarvon Boroughs again in the 1895 general election.
Constituency and Campaign
The constituency was a district of six boroughs, located in different parts of the county of Caernarvonshire, in north west Wales.The area had a reputation, since 1832, as a middle of the road constituency. It was not known as a particularly radical seat. However, since the extension of the franchise in 1885, most parts of Wales had become more supportive of the Liberal Party. Liberal support tended to be associated with religious nonconformity and the Conservative voters were more likely to be Anglican in religion.
Lloyd George had a strong political appeal to his fellow nonconformists. He had become well known by taking up high profile legal actions, addressing nonconformist grievances. By the standards of the era, David Lloyd George was a Welsh nationalist. Lloyd George hoped to use the national issue to appeal beyond his nonconformist base. However this issue was more popular in South Wales than in the north. The North Wales Liberal Federation was hesitant over Home Rule for Wales. Tom Ellis
T. E. Ellis
Thomas Edward Ellis , usually known as T. E. Ellis, was a Welsh politician who was the leader of Cymru Fydd, a movement aimed at gaining home rule for Wales.-Life:...
thought Lloyd George's support for it reduced his majority at the by-election.
In January 1889, the local Liberal Association selected Lloyd George as their prospective Parliamentary candidate. His rival for the selection, Arthur Humphreys-Owen
Arthur Humphreys-Owen
Arthur Charles Humphreys-Owen was a Welsh barrister, landowner and Liberal politician.Humphreys-Owen was born at Garthmyl, Montgomeryshire, the son of Erskine Humphreys, a barrister. He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge...
, had called Lloyd George "a second rate country attorney". The MP for the Caernarvonshire county division of Arfon
Arfon (UK Parliament constituency)
Arfon is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Although the constituency is relatively large by geographical area, it is a predominantly urban rather than rural seat, with the majority of the population living in the two towns on which the constituency is...
(William Rathbone
William Rathbone VI
William Rathbone VI was an English merchant and businessman noted for his philanthropic and public work...
) thought that Lloyd George's nomination would lead to the loss of the seat.
When the by-election was called the Conservative Party had difficulty finding a candidate. A number of possible local nominees (including the eventual candidate Ellis Nanney) declined the chance to contest the seat. It seemed that an outside barrister would be selected, but this possibility came to nothing, as the local Tories would not promise support in the following general election. Eventually Nanney was persuaded to contest the seat.
Lloyd George secured funding of about £250, for the by-election, from a local Methodist.
Lloyd George issued an election address, on 24 March 1890, in which he supported the standard Gladstonian position on Irish Home Rule but devoted more space to Welsh grievances.
As a campaign tactic, Conservative speakers contrasted the local focus of Nanney, with the scale of Lloyd George's talents and national interests. A contrast was drawn between the wealthy Tory landowner and the Liberal from a lower social strata.
Lloyd George, demonstrating his considerable oratorical skills, ridiculed the Conservative arguments. He pointed out that politics had moved on since the seventeenth century, so it was no longer sufficient for an MP just to be wealthy. In a long remembered phrase, the Liberal candidate referred to the age of the cottage bred candidate.
Lloyd George toured the constituency non stop, speaking in a different part of it each night.
The three smallest boroughs (Criccieth, Nevin and Pwllheli) were the most agricultural and strongly Liberal parts of the seat. In a close election, this support was to prove decisive for the Criccieth based candidate - Lloyd George. The Anglican cathedral city of Bangor was the most strongly Conservative part of the seat. Caernarvon itself and Conway were more doubtful and evenly divided towns.
The election count was tense, as it was soon apparent that the result would be close. At first it seemed Nanney would be elected, but it was found that a parcel of Liberal votes had been put in the wrong pile. Eventually David Lloyd George was declared elected by a margin of 18 votes.
Votes
Source:See also
- Caernarvon Boroughs constituency
- List of United Kingdom by-elections
- United Kingdom by-election recordsUnited Kingdom by-election recordsUK by-election records is an annotated list of notable records from UK Parliamentary by-elections. A by-election occurs when a Member of Parliament resigns, dies, or is disqualified or expelled, and an election is held to fill the vacant seat...