Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet

Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet (28 April 1852 – 10 May 1927),[1] commonly known as Frank Edwards, was a British Liberal Party politician.

Frank Edwards, circa 1905.

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 Davis of Aberdare; 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 Thomas by Lloyd 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 baronet of Knighton 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.

Election results
General election 1900 Radnorshire[5] Electorate 5,219
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 +
General election 1906 Radnorshire[6] Electorate 5,466
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
General election January 1910 Radnorshire[7] Electorate 5,971
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
General election December 1910 Radnorshire[8] Electorate 5,971
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

References
  1. Cymmrodorion Society; Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (London, England). (1928). The Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. The Society. p. 200.
  2. Charmley, Gerard (2012). "Frank Edwards (1852-1927)'The Debonair and Popular Member for Radnorshire'". Transactions of the Radnorshire Society. 82: 30.
  3. Charmley, Gerard (2012). "Frank Edwards (1852-1927)'The Debonair and Popular Member for Radnorshire'". The Transactions of the Radnorshire Society. 82: 30.
  4. "No. 28040". The London Gazette. 16 July 1907. p. 4858.
  5. British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  6. British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  7. British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  8. British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
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