David Matthews (Liberal politician)
Encyclopedia
David Matthews was a Liberal Party
politician in the United Kingdom
.
(MP) for Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)
at a by-election in 1919
following the death of the Liberal MP Thomas Jeremiah Williams
. He stepped down from Parliament
at the 1922 general election
, and did not stand again.
and regarded himself as something of a Welsh nationalist. In 1920 he was one of a group of Welsh MPs who called on the prime minister to create the post of Secretary of State for Wales
but Lloyd George apparently urged them to fight for greater devolution instead. However in February 1921 Matthews attempted to introduce a Bill to institute the post of Welsh Secretary but without success.
, having twice been Chief Magistrate. He was a prominent nonconformist in the area and popular with chapel-goers. In 1924 the Freedom
of Swansea was bestowed on him, by which time he was an Alderman
of Swansea Council.
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 in the United Kingdom
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...
.
Parliamentary politics
Matthews was elected as a Coalition Liberal Member of ParliamentMember 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) for Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)
Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)
Swansea East is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Boundaries :The constituency comprises the electoral wards of Bonymaen, Cwmbwrla, Landore, Llansamlet, Morriston, Mynydd-Bach, Penderry, and St.Thomas...
at a by-election in 1919
Swansea East by-election, 1919
The Swansea East by-election, 1919 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Swansea East on 10 July 1919....
following the death of the Liberal MP Thomas Jeremiah Williams
Thomas Jeremiah Williams
Thomas Jeremiah Williams was a Welsh barrister and Liberal politician.-Family and Education:Thomas Jeremiah Williams was the eldest son of William Williams who was Liberal Member of Parliament for the Swansea District from 1893-1895. He was educated at University College School, London, Sheffield...
. He stepped down from Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
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...
, and did not stand again.
Welsh MP
Matthews was a strong supporter of the premiership of David Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
and regarded himself as something of a Welsh nationalist. In 1920 he was one of a group of Welsh MPs who called on the prime minister to create the post of Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Wales
The Secretary of State for Wales is the head of the Wales Office within the British cabinet. He or she is responsible for ensuring Welsh interests are taken into account by the government, representing the government within Wales and overseeing the passing of legislation which is only for Wales...
but Lloyd George apparently urged them to fight for greater devolution instead. However in February 1921 Matthews attempted to introduce a Bill to institute the post of Welsh Secretary but without success.
Swansea politician
At the time of his election to Parliament, Matthews was a leading member of the civic community in Swansea. He was a member of Swansea Council and was a Justice of the PeaceJustice 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...
, having twice been Chief Magistrate. He was a prominent nonconformist in the area and popular with chapel-goers. In 1924 the Freedom
Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act 1885
The Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act 1885 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that gave the councils of municipal boroughs in England and Wales the power to award the title of honorary freeman to "persons of distinction and any persons who have rendered emininent services to the...
of Swansea was bestowed on him, by which time he was 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 Swansea Council.