W. Llewelyn Williams
Encyclopedia
W. Llewelyn Williams was a Welsh
journalist, lawyer and Liberal Party
politician.
He was born at Brownhill Llansadwrn, Towy Valley, Carmarthenshire
; a memorial plaque was erected in front of the house in 1938. Born into a well-off Congregationalist
family, William Llewelyn Williams was educated at Llandovery College
and Brasenose College, Oxford University. At Oxford he was a founder member of the Dafydd ap Gwilym Society with O. M. Edwards.
On his return to Wales
, he became a journalist
, editing the South Wales Star at Barry, then the South Wales Post at Swansea
. He spent some time on the staff of the South Wales Daily Post, Cardiff, and the Star of London. He wrote a couple of short sories in Welsh
, neither of any real quality. Other work for the Cymmrodorion was later published in book form in 1919 as The Making of Modern Wales. He was not a professional, and saw Welsh history more in terms of Welsh Nationalism
than an objective account of the past. Accordingly, he refused to accept the evidence of Iolo Morgannwg's forgeries.
W. Llewelyn Williams set up the first branch of Cymru Fydd
in Barry in 1891. He was later appointed the movement's South Wales Organiser by David Lloyd George
. Additionally, he was heavily involved in the struggle to secure the Disestablishment of the Church in Wales
.
From journalism, W. Llewelyn Wlliams turned to the law, being called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn
in 1897. He took silk in 1912 and led the South Wales Circuit. He was Recorder of Swansea 1914-1915 and Recorder of Cardiff 1915-1922.
W. Llewelyn Williams put his mane forward for several Parliamentary seats, being mentioned as a possible candidate for Cardiganshire in 1895, when he lost out to Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies. At the 1906 general election
, he was elected Member of Parliament
(MP) for Carmarthen District. Williams held the seat until it was abolished in Boundary Changes in 1918. A convinced old-fashioned Liberal, Williams was opposed to Socialism
.
Having opposed the Boer War
, Llewelyn Williams only reluctantly supported the Great War after the German attack on Belgium. He broke with Lloyd George over conscription
in 1916, supporting the rights of conscientious objector
s and opposing the Defence of the Realm Act. In 1921, Williams fought the Cardiganshire by-election
as an anti-Coalition Liberal, opposing Ernest Evans
, Lloyd George's Private Secretary, the Coalition candidate. Although he lost, Williams performed well and was generally felt to have won a moral victory, forcing Evans to rely on Conservative
votes for his election.
One of his last actions was to write a letter to Lloyd George attempting reconciliation.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
journalist, lawyer and Liberal Party
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.
He was born at Brownhill Llansadwrn, Towy Valley, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
; a memorial plaque was erected in front of the house in 1938. Born into a well-off Congregationalist
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
family, William Llewelyn Williams was educated at Llandovery College
Llandovery College
Llandovery College is an independent school in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was founded and endowed by Thomas Phillips in 1847 to provide a classical and liberal education in which the Welsh language; the study of Welsh literature and history were also to be cultivated.Llandovery...
and Brasenose College, Oxford University. At Oxford he was a founder member of the Dafydd ap Gwilym Society with O. M. Edwards.
On his return to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, he became a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, editing the South Wales Star at Barry, then the South Wales Post at Swansea
Swansea
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...
. He spent some time on the staff of the South Wales Daily Post, Cardiff, and the Star of London. He wrote a couple of short sories in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, neither of any real quality. Other work for the Cymmrodorion was later published in book form in 1919 as The Making of Modern Wales. He was not a professional, and saw Welsh history more in terms of Welsh Nationalism
Welsh nationalism
Welsh nationalism emphasises the distinctiveness of Welsh language, culture, and history, and calls for more self-determination for Wales, which may include more Devolved powers for the Welsh Assembly or full independence from the United Kingdom.-Conquest:...
than an objective account of the past. Accordingly, he refused to accept the evidence of Iolo Morgannwg's forgeries.
W. Llewelyn Williams set up the first branch of Cymru Fydd
Cymru Fydd
The Cymru Fydd movement was founded in 1886 by some of the London Welsh, including J. E. Lloyd, O. M. Edwards, T. E. Ellis , Beriah Gwynfe Evans and Alfred Thomas. Initially it was a purely London-based society, later expanding to cities in England with a large Welsh population...
in Barry in 1891. He was later appointed the movement's South Wales Organiser by David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. Additionally, he was heavily involved in the struggle to secure the Disestablishment of the Church in Wales
Church in Wales
The Church in Wales is the Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses.As with the primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Archbishop of Wales serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The current archbishop is Barry Morgan, the Bishop of Llandaff.In contrast to the...
.
From journalism, W. Llewelyn Wlliams turned to the law, being called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1897. He took silk in 1912 and led the South Wales Circuit. He was Recorder of Swansea 1914-1915 and Recorder of Cardiff 1915-1922.
W. Llewelyn Williams put his mane forward for several Parliamentary seats, being mentioned as a possible candidate for Cardiganshire in 1895, when he lost out to Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies. At the 1906 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, he was elected 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 Carmarthen District. Williams held the seat until it was abolished in Boundary Changes in 1918. A convinced old-fashioned Liberal, Williams was opposed to Socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
.
Having opposed the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, Llewelyn Williams only reluctantly supported the Great War after the German attack on Belgium. He broke with Lloyd George over conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
in 1916, supporting the rights of conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
s and opposing the Defence of the Realm Act. In 1921, Williams fought the Cardiganshire by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
as an anti-Coalition Liberal, opposing Ernest Evans
Ernest Evans (politician)
Ernest Evans was a Liberal Party politician from Wales.-Family and education:Ernest Evans was born at Aberystwyth, the son of Evan Evans, the Clerk to the Cardiganshire County Council and his wife Annie Davies...
, Lloyd George's Private Secretary, the Coalition candidate. Although he lost, Williams performed well and was generally felt to have won a moral victory, forcing Evans to rely on 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...
votes for his election.
One of his last actions was to write a letter to Lloyd George attempting reconciliation.