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

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

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

  • 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

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

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

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

References

  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