Henry Hussey Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea (6 July 1821 – 28 November 1894), known between May 1882 and June 1893 as Sir Hussey Vivian, 1st Baronet, was a Welsh industrialist and politician from the Vivian family.
Born at Singleton Abbey, Swansea, Henry was the eldest son of industrialist and MPJohn Henry Vivian and his wife Sarah, daughter of Arthur Jones, of Reigate. His younger brothers were Arthur Vivian (who would become an industrialist and MP), Glynn Vivian (afterwards an art collector and philanthropist) and Graham Vivian. His uncle was Richard Hussey Vivian, first baron Vivian.[1] He was educated at Eton and studied metallurgy in Germany and France from 1838 before entering Trinity College, Cambridge in 1839.[2]
After two years he became manager of the Liverpool branch of the copper-smelting business founded by his grandfather, Vivian & Sons. Three years later he became a partner of the firm before coming to Swansea to manage the Hafod Works during the last ten years of his father's life (1845–1855). He developed a range of by-products from copper-smelting and diversified into other metallurgical activities. He is credited with originating the "sliding scale" of miners' wages after the strike of 1889, though other authorities attribute the idea to William Thomas Lewis, afterwards Lord Merthyr. He was one of the chief promoters of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, helped to further extend the harbour facilities of the town and championed the merits of Welsh coal in Parliamentary debates. It was largely due to his efforts that Swansea became a major industrial centre.
In 1889, he became the first chairman of the Glamorgan County Council. He was also a Justice of the Peace, Deputy Lieutenant for Glamorgan and for some years first Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Glamorgan Rifle Volunteers.
After his death on 28 November 1894, probate was granted to his sons Henry Hussey Vivian and Odo Richard Vivian valuing his estate at £163,707 1s 9d, he was buried in the churchyard of St Paul's Church in Sketty. There is a bronze statue of Henry wearing a frock coat and gown in St. David's Shopping Centre, Swansea, created by Italian sculptor Mario Raggi.[5] There is also a plaque at St John's Church in Hafod. It was erected by his widow and contains the words 'Life's race well run. Life's work well done. Life's crown well won. Then comes rest'.
Lord Swansea's younger brother Sir Arthur Vivian was also a Liberal politician.
Marriages and children
Lord Swansea married, on 15 April 1847, to Jessie Dalrymple Goddard (c. 1825 – 28 February 1848), the daughter of Ambrose Goddard, of the Lawn, Swindon. His wife died of childbed fever a few weeks after the birth of their only child.
The Hon. John Aubrey Vivian (23 July 1854 – 1 March 1898); died unmarried
Lord Swansea took as his third wife, on 10 November 1870, Averil Beaumont (1841 – 14 January 1934), daughter of Capt. Richard Beaumont, R.N., and granddaughter of the 3rd Baron Macdonald of Slate. He and his third wife had seven children;
Violet Averil Margaret Vivian (3 December 1871 – 30 March 1943)
Henry Hussey Vivian (5 February 1873 – 11 December 1898); died unmarried
1st: a Lion's Head erased proper charged with two Bezants palewise and gorged with a Collar Gules thereon three Annulets Or with a Chain of the last; 2nd: issuant from a Bridge of one arch embattled and having at each end a Tower proper a Demi-Hussar in the uniform of the 18th Regiment holding in his right hand a Sabre and in his left a Red Pennon flying to the sinister
Escutcheon
Or on a Chevron Azure between three Lions' Heads erased proper as many Annulets Gold on a Chief embattled Gules a Wreath of Oak Or between two Martlets Argent
Supporters
Dexter: A Dragon wings elevated Gules gorged with a Collar Or charged with three Torteaux; Sinister: A Horse Argent Saddle and Bridle proper Trappings Gules gorged with a Collar Sable charged with three Bezants
