Walter Rice, 7th Baron Dynevor
Encyclopedia
Walter FitzUryan Rice, 7th Baron Dynevor (17 August 1873 – 8 June 1956) was a British
military officer, civil servant and politician
. He was the only son and heir of the 6th Baron Dynevor.
He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
. On graduating from Oxford, he served in the Carmarthen Artillery for twelve years, rising to the rank of Captain
.
On 12 October 1898, he married Lady Margaret Child Villiers (8 October 1875 – 1 April 1959), daughter of Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey and Margaret Elizabeth (née Leigh), Countess of Jersey, DBE.
The 7th Baron had the following children:
From 1899 to 1903, the Hon. Walter Rice was assistant private secretary
to Lord Hamilton
, Secretary of State for India
. From 1903 to 1905, he was assistant secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Selborne
. After the Conservative
government resigned in 1905, Rice travelled extensively in the Middle East
and the Orient
.
In January 1910, he was elected MP
for Brighton
, being re-elected in December. His majority of 4,000 was, he was to comment later, unusually high in a period when average electorates were not large. In 1911, the Hon. Walter Rice became 7th Baron Dynevor on the death of his father. Thereafter, he became increasingly involved with the politics of his native Carmarthenshire
. Vice-president of the Carmarthenshire Conservatives in 1912, he was also President of the West Wales
Conservatives to 1914, when Conservative re-organisation saw him become President of the South Wales Conservatives, a post he held until 1938.
During the Great War, Lord Dynevor served in the Ministry of Munitions from 1916. Thereafter, he served on the Unionist
Devolution
Committee, considering the recommendations of the Speaker's Conference on Devolution. In 1919, he was elected to the Carmarthenshire County Council
for Llandeilo
, capturing a traditionally Liberal seat as an independent. He retained this seat until increasing deafness forced him to resign in 1935.
Throughout the inter-war years, Lord Dynevor was a key figure in Welsh Conservative politics, as well as the Carmarthenshire territorials. In 1928, Lord Dynevor became Lord Lietenant of Carmarthenshire. Forced to resign from his offices in 1938 due to increasing deafness, Lord Dynevor was praised for his record of public service.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military officer, civil servant and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the only son and heir of the 6th Baron Dynevor.
He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. On graduating from Oxford, he served in the Carmarthen Artillery for twelve years, rising to the rank of Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
.
On 12 October 1898, he married Lady Margaret Child Villiers (8 October 1875 – 1 April 1959), daughter of Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey and Margaret Elizabeth (née Leigh), Countess of Jersey, DBE.
The 7th Baron had the following children:
- Charles Arthur Uryan Rhys, 8th Baron Dynevor (1899–1962) (http://www.freerangephotography.co.uk/MMDgenealogy-p/p17.htm#i2228)
- Hon. Imogen Alice Rhys (27 August 1903 - March 2001)
- Captain Hon. David Reginald Rhys (18 March 1907 – 1991), married Lady Anne Maude WellesleyLady Anne RhysAnne Maud Rhys, 7th Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo, known in the United Kingdom as Lady Anne Maud Rhys , was a British aristocrat, a noblewoman in the Spanish nobility, and socialite....
From 1899 to 1903, the Hon. Walter Rice was assistant private secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to Lord Hamilton
Lord George Hamilton
Lord George Francis Hamilton GCSI, PC, JP was a British Conservative Party politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-Background:...
, Secretary of State for India
Secretary of State for India
The Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was the British Cabinet minister responsible for the government of India and the political head of the India Office...
. From 1903 to 1905, he was assistant secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Selborne
William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne
William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne KG, GCMG, PC , styled Viscount Wolmer between 1882 and 1895, was a British politician and colonial administrator.-Background and education:...
. After the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government resigned in 1905, Rice travelled extensively in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and the Orient
Orient
The Orient means "the East." It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Far East, in relation to Europe. In English it is a metonym that means various parts of Asia.- Derivation :...
.
In January 1910, he was elected MP
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,...
for Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, being re-elected in December. His majority of 4,000 was, he was to comment later, unusually high in a period when average electorates were not large. In 1911, the Hon. Walter Rice became 7th Baron Dynevor on the death of his father. Thereafter, he became increasingly involved with the politics of his native Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
. Vice-president of the Carmarthenshire Conservatives in 1912, he was also President of the West 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...
Conservatives to 1914, when Conservative re-organisation saw him become President of the South Wales Conservatives, a post he held until 1938.
During the Great War, Lord Dynevor served in the Ministry of Munitions from 1916. Thereafter, he served on the Unionist
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
Committee, considering the recommendations of the Speaker's Conference on Devolution. In 1919, he was elected to the Carmarthenshire County Council
Carmarthenshire County Council
Carmarthenshire County Council is the local authority for the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales, providing a range of services under the control of elected county councillors that include education, planning, transport, social services and public safety...
for Llandeilo
Llandeilo
Llandeilo is a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Towy by the A483 on a 19th century stone bridge. Its population is 1,731.The town is served by Llandeilo railway station on the Heart of Wales Line.- Early history :...
, capturing a traditionally Liberal seat as an independent. He retained this seat until increasing deafness forced him to resign in 1935.
Throughout the inter-war years, Lord Dynevor was a key figure in Welsh Conservative politics, as well as the Carmarthenshire territorials. In 1928, Lord Dynevor became Lord Lietenant of Carmarthenshire. Forced to resign from his offices in 1938 due to increasing deafness, Lord Dynevor was praised for his record of public service.
Writings
In addition to his public duties, Lord Dynevor wrote two books, My Reminiscences, published in 1937, which comprises a short memoir, and a book on the trees in the park at Dynevor.Legacy
- Walter Street, in Ammanford, CarmarthenshireAmmanford, CarmarthenshireAmmanford is a town and community in the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales, with a population 5,293 according to the Office of National Statistics...
is named for the 7th Baron. Margaret Street was named for his wife.
- In 1916 displaying Welshness had become sufficiently fashionable for Lord Dynevor to adopt (by royal licence) the older, Welsh form of his surname, "Rhys". In 1906 Rice Street in BetwsBetwsBetws is a small village on the River Amman, some 15 miles north of Swansea, Wales; it is part of the ecclesiastical parish of Betws and Ammanford...
had been named after him.
Death
Lord Dynevor died on 8 June 1956, aged 82. He was succeeded by his son, the Hon. Charles Arthur FitzUryan Rhys as 8th Baron.Sources
- Carmarthenshire Record Office, Dynevor Papers Add Mss 4, polling figures for Llandeilo election,
- Conservative election address, Brighton, January 1910;
- CRO Dynevor Papers, Box 114; Dynevor Papers 266/9 'The Home-Coming of the Hon. Walter Rice and His Bride';
- Lord Dynevor's Address to the electors of Llandeilo, February, 1919;
- South Wales Evening Post, 26 February 1938;
- Taliaris Papers, box 441.
- Dynevor, My Reminiscences (Carmarthen, 1937)