Ernest Evans (politician)
Encyclopedia
Ernest Evans was a Liberal Party
politician from Wales
.
, the son of Evan Evans, the Clerk to the Cardiganshire County Council and his wife Annie Davies. He was educated at Llandovery College
, at the University College of Wales, and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
where he was President of the Union
in 1909. He was also active in Cambridge University Liberal Club, serving as its President between 1908 and 1909. In 1925, he married Constance Anne, daughter of Thomas Lloyd, draper, of Hadley Wood
. They had three sons.
and Anglesey
Quarter Sessions
. During the First World War he served with the Royal Army Service Corps
in France from 1915–1918 and was promoted to the rank of Captain.
David Lloyd George
. In February 1921, he was elected as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Cardiganshire at a by-election
representing the Coalition Liberals
. He held the seat at the 1922 general election
, but was defeated at the 1923 general election
by the independent Rhys Hopkin Morris
.
Evans did not stand again in Cardiganshire, but at the 1924 general election
he defeated the Christian pacifist George Maitland Lloyd Davies
to win the University of Wales constituency
. He held that seat until 1942, when he was appointed a County Court
judge.
. He sat as a County Court judge from 1942 until his retirement in 1957. He was a Member of the Council of University College of Wales and of the Council of National Library of Wales
. He was also a Vice-President of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
.
, another Welsh lawyer who went on to lead the Liberal Party from 1945–1956, he wrote An epitome of agricultural law and he also published on his own the Elements of the law relating to vendors and purchasers (1915) and Agricultural and Small Holdings Act.
, Caernarfonshire
on 18 January 1965, aged 79.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Family and education
Ernest Evans was born at AberystwythAberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, the son of Evan Evans, the Clerk to the Cardiganshire County Council and his wife Annie Davies. He was educated at Llandovery College
Llandovery College
Llandovery College is an independent school in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was founded and endowed by Thomas Phillips in 1847 to provide a classical and liberal education in which the Welsh language; the study of Welsh literature and history were also to be cultivated.Llandovery...
, at the University College of Wales, and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
where he was President of the Union
Cambridge Union Society
The Cambridge Union Society, commonly referred to as simply "the Cambridge Union" or "the Union," is a debating society in Cambridge, England and is the largest society at the University of Cambridge. Since its founding in 1815, the Union has developed a worldwide reputation as a noted symbol of...
in 1909. He was also active in Cambridge University Liberal Club, serving as its President between 1908 and 1909. In 1925, he married Constance Anne, daughter of Thomas Lloyd, draper, of Hadley Wood
Hadley Wood
Hadley Wood is a suburb of North London, close to the border with Hertfordshire. It is located in the London Borough of Enfield, about north north-west of Charing Cross and is situated close to Barnet...
. They had three sons.
Career
On leaving university Evans went in for the law. He was called to the Bar in 1910 and he practised both in London and on the South Wales Circuit. He was sometime Chairman of CardiganshireCeredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
and Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
Quarter Sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
. During the First World War he served with the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
in France from 1915–1918 and was promoted to the rank of Captain.
Politics
From November 1918 until December 1920 Evans served as private secretary to the Prime MinisterPrime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. In February 1921, he was elected as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Cardiganshire at a by-election
Cardiganshire by-election, 1921
The Cardiganshire by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Cardiganshire on 18 February 1921...
representing the Coalition Liberals
Coalition Government 1916-1922
The Coalition Government of David Lloyd George came to power in the United Kingdom in December 1916, replacing the earlier wartime coalition under H.H. Asquith, which had been held responsible for reverses during the Great War. Those Liberals who continued to support Asquith served as the Opposition...
. He held the seat at the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
, but was defeated at the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
by the independent Rhys Hopkin Morris
Rhys Hopkin Morris
Sir Rhys Hopkin Morris was a Welsh Liberal politician who was a Member of Parliament from 1923–1932 and from 1945–1956....
.
Evans did not stand again in Cardiganshire, but at the 1924 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
he defeated the Christian pacifist George Maitland Lloyd Davies
George Maitland Lloyd Davies
George Maitland Lloyd Davies was a Welsh pacifist and Member of Parliament for the University of Wales.Davies, who had originally volunteered as an officer in the Territorial Army, but was imprisoned during World War I as a conscientious objector, was the grandson of a noted Welsh preacher, John...
to win the University of Wales constituency
University of Wales (UK Parliament constituency)
University of Wales was a university constituency electing one member to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, from 1918 to 1950. It returned one Member of Parliament , elected under the first-past-the-post voting system....
. He held that seat until 1942, when he was appointed a County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
judge.
Other appointments
Evans was made a KC in 1937 and also served as a Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. He sat as a County Court judge from 1942 until his retirement in 1957. He was a Member of the Council of University College of Wales and of the Council of National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
. He was also a Vice-President of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 as a literary society devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, natives of Anglesey...
.
Publications
Evans specialised in agricultural law. In 1911, together with Clement DaviesClement Davies
Clement Edward Davies KC, MP was a Welsh politician and leader of the Liberal Party from 1945 to 1956.-Life:...
, another Welsh lawyer who went on to lead the Liberal Party from 1945–1956, he wrote An epitome of agricultural law and he also published on his own the Elements of the law relating to vendors and purchasers (1915) and Agricultural and Small Holdings Act.
Death
Evans died at his home, Traethgwyn, Ffordd Tymawr, DeganwyDeganwy
Deganwy is a village in Conwy County Borough in Wales with a population of 3,700. It is in a more English-speaking region of North Wales, with only 1 in 4 residents speaking Welsh as a first language...
, Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
on 18 January 1965, aged 79.