Matthew Lewis Vaughan-Davies, 1st Baron Ystwyth (17 December 1840 – 21 August 1935) was a WelshLiberal Party politician. He was Liberal MP for the Cardiganshire Division from 1895 until 1921.
He was born at Tan-y-Bwlch, Cardiganshire, the only son of Matthew Davies of Tan-y-Bwlch.[1] He was educated at Harrow School, but only stayed for a year. He married, in 1889, Mrs Mary Jenkins. She died in 1926. They had no children.[2]
In 1889, Vaughan Davies sought election as Conservative candidate for Llanfarian at the inaugural Cardiganshire County Council elections but was defeated by another Conservative, Morris Davies, by fifteen votes. Three years later, however, Davies stood as a Liberal candidate. This was an unexpected development as he had been a pillar of Conservatism in Cardiganshire for many years, and one factor may have been his marriage to Mrs Mary Jenkins, a wealthy widow from Swansea, in 1889. She was later elected president of the Aberystwyth Women's Liberal Association, and was a keen supporter of women's suffrage.[4]
Vaughan Davies captured the seat, and remained a member of the County Council for over fifteen years.
Member for CardiganshireEdit
The 1895 General ElectionEdit
Having actively supported the sitting member, William Bowen Rowlands at the 1892 General Election it soon became known that Davies was interested in the Liberal nomination. This was strongly resisted by leading figures in the local Liberal Association, such as the Aberaeron merchant J.M. Howell who suspected Davies's commitment to Liberal policies, a suspicion later borne out by embarrassing evidence of his behaviour towards tenants on his own Tanybwlch estate.
However, Davies was eventually chosen as candidate defeating Wynford Phillips by 160 votes to 111 at a delegate conference.[5]Kenneth O. Morgan has argued that this was due to his support among rural areas where electors 'resented the social climbing of the Aberystwyth bourgeoisie;.[6] It was reported at the time that the influence of the Aberystwyth element within the Liberal Association had been resented ever since the Cardiganshire County Council was formed in 1889.[7] Vaughan Davies was regarded as an outsider who was also sternly opposed by the Aberystwyth-based Cambrian News, who stated that his selection was 'a more complete defeat of Liberalism than if Mr Harford, the Conservative candidate, had been placed at the head of the poll by a large majority'.[8] There is no doubt that his selection created divisions in the Liberal ranks.[7] Some compared the extent of the divisions with the position in 1886 when David Davies had defected to the Liberal Unionists.[8] Nevertheless, a closer examination of the way delegates from individual wards voted at the selection conference indicates that both candidates drew support from rural wards and while the nineteen delegates from Aberystwyth voted for Phillips the eleven delegates from the county town of Cardigan supported Davies.[5]
He was elected at the 1895 General Election. Although his majority fell by 800 votes from that recorded by Bowen Rowlands in 1892, it remained a comfortable victory over J.C. Harford of Falcondale, one of the ablest local landlords in the county.
Thereafter, Vaughan Davies was comfortably returned at each election but the vitality of the Liberal Association was in serious decline, and by 1914 it was heavily dependent on Vaughan Davies's role as treasurer to keep it going. In the meantime, Vaughan Davies remained on poor terms with prominent Liberals, including John Gibson of the Cambrian News.[10]
In December 1910, he was returned unopposed at the second general election of that year. He sought re-election at the 1918 General election and was the endorsed candidate of Lloyd George's Government. He faced no opponent, so was returned unopposed.[11] He was the oldest member of the House of Commons between 1918 and 1921.
He held the seat until 1921 when he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Ystwyth, of Tan-y-Bwlch in the County of Cardigan, in the 1921 New Year Honours.[12] As Lord Ystwyth had no children the title became extinct on his death in August 1935, aged 94.
^"Ystwyth, 1st Baron cr 1921, of Tan-y-Bwlch, (Matthew Lewis Vaughan-Davies) (17 Dec. 1840–21 Aug. 1935)". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
^British parliamentary election results 1885–1918, Craig, F. W. S.
Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN0-900178-06-X.
Morgan, Kenneth O. (1967). "Cardiganshire Politics: The Liberal Ascendancy 1885-1923". Ceredigion. 5 (4): 311–346.
Palmer, Caroline (2004). "Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies - ambitious cad or assiduous politician?". Ceredigion. 14 (4): 73–104.
External linksEdit
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Matthew Vaughan-Davies
October 18, 2023
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Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies 1st Baron Ystwyth 17 December 1840 21 August 1935 was a Welsh Liberal Party politician He was Liberal MP for the Cardiganshire Division from 1895 until 1921 Matthew Vaughan Davies Contents 1 Background 2 Early political career 3 Member for Cardiganshire 3 1 The 1895 General Election 3 2 Later career 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksBackground EditHe was born at Tan y Bwlch Cardiganshire the only son of Matthew Davies of Tan y Bwlch 1 He was educated at Harrow School but only stayed for a year He married in 1889 Mrs Mary Jenkins She died in 1926 They had no children 2 Early political career EditHe served as High Sheriff of Cardiganshire in 1875 He served as a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant in Cardiganshire 1 He was the Conservative candidate in the seat in 1885 but then went over to William Gladstone 3 In 1889 Vaughan Davies sought election as Conservative candidate for Llanfarian at the inaugural Cardiganshire County Council elections but was defeated by another Conservative Morris Davies by fifteen votes Three years later however Davies stood as a Liberal candidate This was an unexpected development as he had been a pillar of Conservatism in Cardiganshire for many years and one factor may have been his marriage to Mrs Mary Jenkins a wealthy widow from Swansea in 1889 She was later elected president of the Aberystwyth Women s Liberal Association and was a keen supporter of women s suffrage 4 Vaughan Davies captured the seat and remained a member of the County Council for over fifteen years Member for Cardiganshire EditThe 1895 General Election Edit Having actively supported the sitting member William Bowen Rowlands at the 1892 General Election it soon became known that Davies was interested in the Liberal nomination This was strongly resisted by leading figures in the local Liberal Association such as the Aberaeron merchant J M Howell who suspected Davies s commitment to Liberal policies a suspicion later borne out by embarrassing evidence of his behaviour towards tenants on his own Tanybwlch estate However Davies was eventually chosen as candidate defeating Wynford Phillips by 160 votes to 111 at a delegate conference 5 Kenneth O Morgan has argued that this was due to his support among rural areas where electors resented the social climbing of the Aberystwyth bourgeoisie 6 It was reported at the time that the influence of the Aberystwyth element within the Liberal Association had been resented ever since the Cardiganshire County Council was formed in 1889 7 Vaughan Davies was regarded as an outsider who was also sternly opposed by the Aberystwyth based Cambrian News who stated that his selection was a more complete defeat of Liberalism than if Mr Harford the Conservative candidate had been placed at the head of the poll by a large majority 8 There is no doubt that his selection created divisions in the Liberal ranks 7 Some compared the extent of the divisions with the position in 1886 when David Davies had defected to the Liberal Unionists 8 Nevertheless a closer examination of the way delegates from individual wards voted at the selection conference indicates that both candidates drew support from rural wards and while the nineteen delegates from Aberystwyth voted for Phillips the eleven delegates from the county town of Cardigan supported Davies 5 He was elected at the 1895 General Election Although his majority fell by 800 votes from that recorded by Bowen Rowlands in 1892 it remained a comfortable victory over J C Harford of Falcondale one of the ablest local landlords in the county General election 1895 Cardiganshire 9 Electorate 12 994 Party Candidate Votes Liberal Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies 4 927 56 8Conservative John Charles Harford 3 748 43 2Majority 1 179 13 6Turnout 66 8Liberal hold SwingLater career Edit Five years later against the same opponent his majority was reduced General election 1900 Cardiganshire 9 Electorate 13 299 Party Candidate Votes Liberal Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies 4 568 54 7Conservative John Charles Harford 3 787 45 3Majority 781 9 4Turnout 62 8Liberal hold SwingThereafter Vaughan Davies was comfortably returned at each election but the vitality of the Liberal Association was in serious decline and by 1914 it was heavily dependent on Vaughan Davies s role as treasurer to keep it going In the meantime Vaughan Davies remained on poor terms with prominent Liberals including John Gibson of the Cambrian News 10 General election 1906 Cardiganshire 9 Electorate 13 215 Party Candidate Votes Liberal Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies 5 829 66 3Liberal Unionist C E D M Richardson 2 960 33 7Majority 2 869 32 6Turnout 66 5Liberal hold SwingGeneral election January 1910 Cardiganshire 9 Electorate 13 333 Party Candidate Votes Liberal Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies 6 348 68 3Conservative George Fossett Roberts 2 943 31 7Majority 3 405 36 6Turnout 69 7Liberal hold SwingIn December 1910 he was returned unopposed at the second general election of that year He sought re election at the 1918 General election and was the endorsed candidate of Lloyd George s Government He faced no opponent so was returned unopposed 11 He was the oldest member of the House of Commons between 1918 and 1921 He held the seat until 1921 when he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Ystwyth of Tan y Bwlch in the County of Cardigan in the 1921 New Year Honours 12 As Lord Ystwyth had no children the title became extinct on his death in August 1935 aged 94 Parliament of the United KingdomPreceded byWilliam Bowen Rowlands Member of Parliament for Cardiganshire1895 1921 Succeeded byErnest EvansPreceded byJesse Collings Oldest Member of Parliament not Father of the House 1918 1921 Succeeded byDonald MacmasterPeerage of the United KingdomNew creation Baron Ystwyth1921 1935 ExtinctReferences Edit a b Debrett s House of Commons 1901 Ystwyth 1st Baron cr 1921 of Tan y Bwlch Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies 17 Dec 1840 21 Aug 1935 WHO S WHO amp WHO WAS WHO Retrieved 2 August 2021 British parliamentary election results 1885 1918 Craig F W S Morgan Cardiganshire Politics 326 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b Representation of Cardiganshire Selection of Liberal Candidate Aberystwyth Observer 4 July 1895 Retrieved 8 October 2014 Morgan Cardiganshire Politics 326 7 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b The Liberal Split editorial Aberystwyth Observer 4 July 1895 Retrieved 6 October 2014 a b The Contest in Cardiganshire editorial Cambrian News 5 July 1895 Retrieved 4 October 2014 a b c d British parliamentary election results 1885 1918 Craig Morgan Cardiganshire Politics 328 9 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help British parliamentary election results 1885 1918 Craig F W S No 32196 The London Gazette 18 January 1921 p 455 Obituary The Times 23 August 1935 Craig F W S 1983 1969 British parliamentary election results 1918 1949 3rd ed Chichester Parliamentary Research Services ISBN 0 900178 06 X Leigh Rayment s Peerage Pages self published source better source needed Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPsBibliography EditMorgan Kenneth O 1967 Cardiganshire Politics The Liberal Ascendancy 1885 1923 Ceredigion 5 4 311 346 Palmer Caroline 2004 Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies ambitious cad or assiduous politician Ceredigion 14 4 73 104 External links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Matthew Vaughan Davies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matthew Vaughan Davies 1st Baron Ystwyth amp oldid 1156554750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
