William Thomas Rowland Powell

William Thomas Rowland Powell
Member of Parliament
for Cardiganshire
In office
7 May 1859 – 20 July 1865
Preceded by Ernest Vaughan
Succeeded by Thomas Lloyd
Personal details
Born 8 August 1815
Died 13 May 1878
Nationality British
Political party Conservative

William Thomas Rowland Powell (8 August 1815 – 13 May 1878)[1] was a British Conservative politician.

Powell was born on 8 August 1815, son of Colonel W.E. Powell of Nanteos. His father was MP for Cardiganshire from 1816 until his death in 1852, and served as Lord Lieutenant of the same county.[2] He was educated at Westminster School.[2] He gained a commission in the army, and served for some tears in the West Indies before retiring in 1854 with the rank of captain.[2] Powell later served as Colonel of the Royal Cardiganshire Militia and as a magistrate and deputy lieutenant for Cardiganshire and also a magistrate for Montgomeryshire.

The 1859 General Election

Powell was elected MP for Cardiganshire, his father's former constituency, at the 1859 General Election, when he defeated Saunders Davies of Pentre by a small margin. His opponent's father, D.A. Saunders Davies, had previously served as MP for Carmarthenshire until his death in 1857. Powell was successful despite the fact that his opponent had the support of the majority of the county's landed gentry, most of whom were located in the south of the county. This was demonstrated by the fact that in the Cardigan district, Davies had a substantial majority. However, in Aberystwyth district, the northern part of the county, where Nanteos was located, Powell won by an even more decisive margin[3] Both candidates were said to hold similar political views and Powell sat in Parliamnent as a Liberal-Conservative, The fact that he was supported by the former Conservative MP for Cardigan Boroughs, John Lloyd Davies, demonstrates that Powell was hardly a radical candidate.

Powell held the seat until 1865 when he did not seek re-election.[4]

The 1865 General Election

Powell had announced his retirement some time before the 1865 General Election on account of his ill-health. Thomas Lloyd of Bronwydd emerged as a Liberal candidate to contest the seat but, shortly before the election, Powell reversed his decision and announced that he would once again contest the seat. Lloyd withdrew in his favour. However, it soon became apparent that he would be challenged by a more radical Liberal candidate and both David Davies, Llandinam and Henry Richard canvassed for support in the constituency. Reluctant to face a contested election, Powell retired from the fray. At the consequent election, Lloyd was returned after a narrow victory over David Davies.[5]

Powell died on 13 May 1878 at the Crystal Palace Hotel, Norwood, London.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Rayment, Leigh (7 April 2018). "The House of Commons: Constituencies beginning with "C"". Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The Late Colonel Powell". Aberystwyth Observer. 18 May 1878. p. 4. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "The Cardiganshire County Election". Aberystwyth Observer. 7 May 1859. p. 1. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  4. ↑ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book)|format= requires |url= (help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. p. 520. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  5. ↑ Jones 1964, p. 16.

Sources

  • Jones, Ieuan Gwynedd (1964). "Cardiganshire Politics in the Mid-Nineteenth Century" (PDF). Ceredigion. 5 (1): 14–41. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Ernest Vaughan		 Member of Parliament for Cardiganshire
1859–1865		 Succeeded by
Thomas Lloyd
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