Sir Hugh Owen Owen, 2nd Baronet

Sir Hugh Owen Owen, 2nd Baronet (25 December 1803 – 5 September 1891),^[1] known as Hugh Owen Lord until 1809, was a British Liberal Party, Conservative Party and Tory politician.

Family and early life

Born in 1803 as Hugh Owen Lord, Owen was the son of Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet and his first wife Charlotte, daughter of John Lewes Philipps. He was a descendant of the nobleman Hwfa ap Cynddelw to the Owens of Orielton, Pembrokeshire, a family known for parliamentary and military service in Pembrokeshire. His surname was changed to Owen when his father inherited the estates of Hugh Owen's cousin Sir Hugh Owen, 6th Baronet, whom Owen was named after.^[2]

Educated at Eton College in 1817, and graduating from Christ Church, Oxford in 1822, he first married Angelina Maria Cecilia, daughter of Sir Charles Morgan, 2nd Baronet in 1825, and they had five sons and three daughters, including: Hugh Charles Owen (1826–1909); John Owen (1828–1890); Arthur Owen (1829–1876); and, William Owen (1832–1889).^[2][3]

After Angelina's death in 1844, he remarried in 1845 to Henrietta Fraser, daughter of Edward Rodney, and they had one son and three daughters, including: Alice Henrietta Rodney Owen (died 1925); Ellen Rodney Owen; Edith Rodney Owen; and George Rodney Owen (1859–1886).^[2][3]

Political career

Both Owen's father and cousin Hugh had been Tory MPs for Pembroke between 1809 and 1812, with the father also holding Pembrokeshire between 1812 and 1841. Owen also entered Parliament when he was first elected MP for Pembroke unopposed at the 1826 general election as a Tory, after which he admitted his youth and experience, and declared support for religious toleration but not Catholic relief.^[2]

Although he was re-elected numerous times, including as a Conservative in 1832, Owen was often criticised for an "inattention for his parliamentary duties". In Parliament, he voted against abolition of the Welsh courts, arguing "our sessions should be held in future where they are at present held and, when the bill received Royal Assent, he signed a memorial expressing regret for it.^[2]

Owen was also against the parliamentary reform scheme put forward by Lord Blandford, divided against emancipation and the Galway franchise bill, and presented petitions for the abolition of slavery. In 1831, he divided against the Grey ministry's reform bill and for Isaac Gascoyne's wrecking amendment, and later divided against a reintroduced version of the former in 1831, and then again upon its second and third readings. He later resigned in 1838 when his father obliged him to vacate the seat for Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet.^[2]

After 23 years of absence from Parliament, in January 1861, he attempted to be elected as a Liberal for Pembrokeshire but was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the next month, he was elected as a Liberal in his former constituency, Pembroke, succeeding his father who had recently died, at a by-election in 1861 and held the seat until he was defeated in 1868.^[4][2]

Baronetcy

Owen succeeded his father as Baronet of Orielton, Pembrokeshire on 6 February 1861 and, upon his own death in 1891, the title was passed to his son Hugh Owen.^[2][5][3]

Other activities

In 1830, Owen was made Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the Pembrokeshire militia, and later, between 1872 and 1875, was a Colonel of the Pembrokeshire artillery militia. From 1872 to his death, he was also aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.^[2] He was also at some point Deputy Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire.^[3]

References

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir Hugh Owen