Iolo Aneurin Williams

Captain Iolo Aneurin Williams (18 June 1890 – 18 January 1962), was a British writer, journalist and Liberal Party politician. His son was the composer Edward Williams.

Background

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Williams was born in Middlesbrough, the son of Aneurin Williams, who was a Liberal member of parliament. He was the brother of Ursula Williams who was also a Liberal politician. He was educated at Rugby School and King's College, Cambridge. In 1920 he married Francion Elinor Dixon. They had one son and two daughters.[1]

Professional career

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Williams was Bibliographical Correspondent of the London Mercury from 1920–1939. He made contributions to the Dictionary of National Biography and the Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature. He was a published poet and writer.[2]

Publications

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  • Poems, 1915
  • New Poems, 1919
  • Byways Round Helicon, 1922
  • Shorter Poems of the 18th Century, 1923
  • Seven 18th Century Bibliographies, 1924
  • Editor: plays of Sheridan, 1926
  • Elements of Book-Collecting, 1927
  • Poetry To-day, 1927
  • Where the Bee Sucks, 1929 (illustrated by Katharine Cameron)
  • The Firm of Cadbury, 1931
  • Points in 18th Century Verse, 1934
  • English Folk Song and Dance, 1935
  • Flowers of Marsh and Stream (King Penguin), 1946
  • Early English Water-Colours, 1952

Political career

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Williams was Liberal candidate for the Chelsea division of London at the 1924 General Election. Chelsea was a safe Unionist seat, so he was not expected to win. 1924 was not a good election for the Liberals and he came in third place in the race. Despite this, he contested Chelsea again at the 1929 General Election, a better election for the Liberals. He increased the Liberal share of the vote, but still finished third. He did not stand for parliament again.[3]

Electoral record

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General Election 1924: Chelsea
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rt Hon. Sir Samuel Hoare 13,816 65.68 +8.68
Labour Dora Russell 5,661 26.01 −1.49
Liberal Iolo Aneurin Williams 1,557 7.40 −8.11
Majority 8,155 38.77 +9.27
Turnout 29,582 71.10 +7.27
Unionist hold Swing +5.09
General Election 1929: Chelsea
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rt Hon. Sir Samuel John Gurney Hoare 15,480 58.4 −7.2
Labour Alfred George Prichard 6,645 25.1 −0.9
Liberal Iolo Aneurin Williams 4,360 16.5 +9.1
Majority 8,835 33.4 −5.4
Turnout 41,945 63.1 −8.0
Unionist hold Swing -4.1

Family tree

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Iolo Morganwg (Edward Williams)
1747–1826
Taliesin ab Iolo (Taliesin Williams)
1787–1847
Edward Williams
1826–1886
Aneurin Williams
1859–1924
Penry Williams
1866–1945
Iolo Aneurin Williams
1890–1962
Edward Williams
1921–2013

See also

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References

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  1. ^ ‘WILLIAMS, Iolo Aneurin’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 8 April 2016
  2. ^ ‘WILLIAMS, Iolo Aneurin’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014, accessed 8 April 2016]
  3. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1973, FWS Craig