EDWARDS, JOHN (1882 - 1960), politician and barrister

Born at Llanbadarn Fawr, Cardiganshire, on 28 February 1882, the son of James Edwards, the minister at Soar Congregational Chapel, Llanbadarn, and his wife, Rachel Jones. The family had moved to Neath by 7 January 1883 when his father became minister of Soar Chapel in that town. He was educated at the British School and the intermediate school at Neath. He won a scholarship to the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he took a B.A. (London) degree. For some years, he was a schoolmaster in Aberdare. John Edwards served in France with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in World War I and was awarded the D.S.O.; promoted to lieutenant colonel; and twice mentioned in despatches. He played rugby for the London Welsh and Middlesex. He was elected the Liberal M.P. for Aberavon in December 1918 but he lost the seat to Ramsay Macdonald in 1921. He stood as an independent candidate for the University of Wales seat in 1923 but George M.Ll. Davies was elected. He was called to the bar in Gray's Inn in 1921. He was the High Sheriff for Cardiganshire in 1942. Edwards had an interest in Welsh drama and published a play, Galw'r môr (1923), as well as a memoir of his father, Edwards Castellnedd (1935), and professional contributions to the English and Empire Law Digest and to legal journals.

He married in London on 27 October 1932, Gweno Elin, the eldest daughter of Joseph Davies Bryan and Jane Clayton, of Alexandria, Egypt; her father was a major benefactor of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (see BRYAN, ROBERT,. They had two sons and a daughter. He lived at Llwyn, 11 West Road, Kingston Hill, Surrey and he died at Surbiton Hospital on 23 May 1960. His ashes were buried at Aberystwyth.

Author

• Evan David Jones, (1903 - 1987)

Sources

• Who was who?
• 'Will O' Whispers' column in The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard, 5 September 1975
• [information from his daughter, Rachel Davies, Llangynwyd ]

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: John Edwards

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q6231381

Published date: 2001

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