Richard Davies (MP)
Encyclopedia
Richard Davies was a Welsh businessman and ship-owner and non-conformist Liberal
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1886.
Davies was born at Llangefni
, Anglesey
, the son of Richard Davies, a merchant of Llangefni, and his wife Anne Jones of Coed Hywel. He was educated at Llangefni national school. When his father set up subsidiary businesses under the management of his three sons, Richard Davies was assigned to the old ferry-terminal of Porthaethwy, which was reconstituted as Menai Bridge
. This timber importing business developed so successfully that all the family became involved and the business developed into large-scale ship-owning which generated considerable wealth.
Davies became a notable figure in politics as a Welsh radical nonconformist. He stood as Liberal candidate for Caernarvon
at the 1852 general election
but lost by 93 votes. Davies was Anglesey's first Nonconformist J.P. and was High Sheriff of Anglesey
in 1858. He was elected unopposed as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Anglesey in the election of 1868
. He retained the seat till the 1886 general election
, when he retired, being opposed to the proposal for Irish Home Rule.
At one time Davies lived at Bwlch-y-fen, but afterwards at Treborth, opposite Menai Bridge and was a benefactor to Bangor Normal College and to the ‘British’ schools. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey
in 1884.
Davies died at Treborth at the age of 77 and was buried in Llandysilio
churchyard. Famously his final words are reputed to be "cannot be fathomed".
Davies married Anne Rees, daughter of Rev. Henry Rees of Liverpool and niece of William Rees
in 1855 and had several children, one of whom was Henry Rees Davies.
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 who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1886.
Davies was born at Llangefni
Llangefni
Llangefni is the county town of Anglesey in Wales and contains the principal offices of the Isle of Anglesey County Council. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of Llangefni was 4,662 people and it is the second largest settlement on the island...
, Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, the son of Richard Davies, a merchant of Llangefni, and his wife Anne Jones of Coed Hywel. He was educated at Llangefni national school. When his father set up subsidiary businesses under the management of his three sons, Richard Davies was assigned to the old ferry-terminal of Porthaethwy, which was reconstituted as Menai Bridge
Menai Bridge
Menai Bridge is a small town and community on the Isle of Anglesey in north Wales. It overlooks the Menai Strait and lies by the Menai Suspension Bridge, built in 1826 by Thomas Telford...
. This timber importing business developed so successfully that all the family became involved and the business developed into large-scale ship-owning which generated considerable wealth.
Davies became a notable figure in politics as a Welsh radical nonconformist. He stood as Liberal candidate for Caernarvon
Caernarfon (UK Parliament constituency)
Caernarfon was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Caernarfon in Wales. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system....
at the 1852 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1852
The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising...
but lost by 93 votes. Davies was Anglesey's first Nonconformist J.P. and was High Sheriff of Anglesey
High Sheriff of Anglesey
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Anglesey. Following the conquest of Wales by Edward I Anglesey was created a county of Wales under the terms of the Statute of Rhuddlan of 1284...
in 1858. He was elected unopposed as the 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) for Anglesey in the election of 1868
United Kingdom general election, 1868
The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom...
. He retained the seat till the 1886 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, when he retired, being opposed to the proposal for Irish Home Rule.
At one time Davies lived at Bwlch-y-fen, but afterwards at Treborth, opposite Menai Bridge and was a benefactor to Bangor Normal College and to the ‘British’ schools. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey
Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey
This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey. Since 1761, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Anglesey...
in 1884.
Davies died at Treborth at the age of 77 and was buried in Llandysilio
Llandysilio
Llandysilio is a village and community in the Welsh county of Powys.Its population at the 2001 Census was 962. The present parish church, dedicated to Saint Tysilio, dates from 1867 but tradition states that a church was founded here by Tysilio in the seventh century.- External links :*...
churchyard. Famously his final words are reputed to be "cannot be fathomed".
Davies married Anne Rees, daughter of Rev. Henry Rees of Liverpool and niece of William Rees
William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog)
The Rev. William Rees , usually known in Wales by his bardic name of Gwilym Hiraethog, was a Welsh poet and author, one of the major figures of Welsh literature during the 19th century....
in 1855 and had several children, one of whom was Henry Rees Davies.