 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this articlebyadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet (28 April 1852 – 10 May 1927),[1] commonly known as Frank Edwards, was a British Liberal Party politician.
Sir Francis, the fourth son of Edward Edwards of Llangollen, was educated at Shrewsbury School and Jesus College, Oxford (graduated 1875). He was married in 1880 to Catherine, daughter of David DavisofAberdare; the couple had one daughter.[2]
He was elected Liberal Member of Parliament for Radnorshire in 1892. Edwards was a determined Liberal and a supporter of the Disestablishment of the Church in Wales, of which he was a member. In 1894, Edwards joined with David Lloyd George, David Alfred Thomas, and Herbert Lewis in resigning the Liberal Whip in protest at the delay of the Government of Lord Rosebery in introducing a Welsh Disestablishment measure. He was a relative of A. G. Edwards, Bishop of St Asaph and first Archbishop of Wales.[3]
Defeated in 1895, Edwards was to play no part in the struggle to unite Welsh Liberalism under the auspices of Cymru Fydd. Edwards appears to have been viewed as under the 'baleful' influence of David Alfred ThomasbyLloyd George and Herbert Lewis. In 1898, he was High Sheriff of the county. In 1900, Edwards fought Radnorshire on a platform of opposition to the Boer War and returned to parliament.
He was created baronetofKnighton in the County of Radnor on 25 July 1907.[4]
Edwards published a volume of Welsh poetry entitled 'Translations from the Welsh' in 1913. He did not stand in 1918, the Radnorshire Constituency having been amalgamated with Brecon.
He served as Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Radnorshire.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Francis Edwards | 2,082 | 52.1 | + | |
| Conservative | Charles Leyshon Dillwyn-Venables-Llewellyn | 1,916 | 47.9 | – | |
| Majority | 166 | 4.2 | |||
| Turnout | 3998 | 76.6 | |||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | + | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Francis Edwards | 2,187 | 52.1 | +0.0 | |
| Conservative | Charles Leyshon Dillwyn-Venables-Llewellyn | 2,013 | 47.9 | -0.0 | |
| Majority | 174 | 4.2 | 0.0 | ||
| Turnout | 4,200 | 76.8 | +0.2 | ||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Charles Leyshon Dillwyn-Venables-Llewellyn | 2,222 | 50.2 | +2.3 | |
| Liberal | Sir Francis Edwards | 2,208 | 49.8 | -2.3 | |
| Majority | 14 | 0.4 | 4.6 | ||
| Turnout | 4,430 | 74.2 | -2.6 | ||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Sir Francis Edwards | 2,224 | 50.5 | +0.7 | |
| Conservative | Charles Leyshon Dillwyn-Venables-Llewellyn | 2,182 | 49.5 | -0.7 | |
| Majority | 42 | 1.0 | 1.4 | ||
| Turnout | 4,406 | 73.8 | -0.4 | ||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +0.7 | |||
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Radnorshire 1892–1895 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Radnorshire 1900 – January 1910 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Radnorshire December 1910 – 1918 |
Succeeded by |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Baronet (of Knighton) 1907–1927 |
Extinct |
