1889 Carmarthenshire County Council election

The first election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in January 1889.[1] It was followed by the 1892 election.

Overview of the result

1889 was one of those landmark years in the history of Welsh Liberalism, a coming of age symbolized by the triumph across Wales of Liberal candidates in the inaugural county council elections.

Candidates and unopposed returns

Most of the seats were contested by Liberal and Conservative candidates. The number of unopposed returns was small.

Contested elections

There were a large number of contested elections and the majorities were small in most instances. The Liberals won a large majority of the seats with only nine Conservatives returned. There were also two Liberal Unionists, in Carmarthen and Llansteffan.

Summary of results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. This was the inaugural county election and therefore no comparison can be made with the previous elections. In some cases there is an ambiguity in the sources over the party affiliations and this is explained below where relevant.

This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 48 councillors were elected.

Carmarthesnhire County Council 1889: elected members
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal 37
  Conservative 9
  Liberal Unionist 2
  Independent 1
Carmarthenshire County Council 1889 : following election of new aldermen
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal
  Conservative
  Liberal Unionist
  Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1889 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal
  Conservative
  Liberal Unionist
  Independent

Ward results

Abergwili
Abergwili 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal D.L. Jones 226
Liberal John Lloyd 221
Majority 5
Liberal win (new seat)

Bettws
Bettws 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal William Nathaniel Jones 277
Liberal James Rees 230
Majority 46
Liberal win (new seat)

Caio
Caio 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal C. Lewis Davies 240
Conservative Sir James Hills-Johnes 200
Majority 40
Liberal win (new seat)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Thomas Jenkins 235
Conservative H. Brunel White 230
Majority 5
Liberal win (new seat)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Unionist H. Norton 213
Liberal Thomas Davies 192
Majority 21
Liberal Unionist win (new seat)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative D.H. Thomas 170
Liberal W. de G. Warren 132
Majority 38
Conservative win (new seat)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal D. Rixon Morgan 251
Conservative James Phillips 182
Majority 69
Liberal win (new seat)

Cenarth
Cenarth 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Edward Davies 239
Conservative H.W.T. Howell 165
Majority
Liberal win (new seat)

Cilycwm
Cilycwm 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Rev Thomas Evans 156
Conservative R. Campbell-Davys 137
Liberal Unionist D.G. Vaughan 63
Majority 19
Liberal win (new seat)

Conwil
Conwil 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Jones 265
Conservative Thomas Davies 121
Majority 144
Liberal win (new seat)

Kidwelly
Kidwelly 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Daniel Stephens 135
Liberal Unionist T.W.A. Evans 85
Conservative D.J. John 28
Majority 50
Liberal win (new seat)

Laugharne
Laugharne 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal John D. Morse 145
Conservative E. Falkener 128
Majority 17
Liberal win (new seat)

Llanarthney
Llanarthney 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Thomas Davies 217
Liberal Rev D.S. Davies 159
Conservative Rev R.G. Lawrence 62
Majority 58
Conservative win (new seat)

Llandebie
Llandebie 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Lord Dynevor 260
Liberal David Richards 186
Majority 74
Conservative win (new seat)

Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Rural 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Thomas Powell 351
Conservative Herbert Peel 202
Majority 149
Liberal win (new seat)

Llandilo Urban
Llandilo Urban 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal J.W. Gwynne Hughes 174
Conservative John Thomas 120
Majority 54
Liberal win (new seat)

Llandovery
Llandovery 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Col. D.E. Jones Unopposed
Conservative win (new seat)

Llanedy
Llanedy 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Evan Evans Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)

Llanegwad
Llanegwad 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal H.J. Thomas 330
Conservative Henry Davies 109
Conservative A.W. Stokes 62
Majority 221
Liberal win (new seat)

Llanelly Rural and Ward No.1 (six seats)
Llanelly Rural and Ward No.1 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Gwilym Evans 1,402
Liberal Joseph Mayberry 1,332
Liberal Henry Wilkins 1,330
Liberal Owen Bonville 1,234
Liberal Thomas Jenkins 1,212
Liberal Rev P. Phillips 1,139
Independent Hugh Nevill 776
Conservative James Buckley 756
Conservative Ernest Trubshaw 722
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)

Llanelly Ward No.2 (three seats)
Llanelly Ward No.2 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Thomas Phillips 774
Liberal W.J. Wilson 715
Liberal D.C. Parry 659
Conservative Dr Henry J. Buckley 553
Liberal Unionist John A. Williams 483
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)

Llanelly Ward No.3 (two seats)
Llanelly Ward No.3 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal John Bourne Unopposed
Conservative J.S. Tregoning Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Viscount Emlyn Unopposed
Conservative win (new seat)

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Evan Harries Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)

Llangadock
Llangadock 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal James Jenkins 270
Liberal W.N. Lewis 213
Majority 57
Liberal win (new seat)

Llangeler
Llangeler 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal John Lewis 268
Conservative Arthur Howell Jones 260
Majority 8
Liberal win (new seat)

Llangendeirne
Llangendeirne 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Evans Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)

Llangennech
Llangennech 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal J. Glyn Thomas 202
Conservative Rev E.A. Davies 111
Majority 91
Liberal win (new seat)

Llangunnor
Llangunnor 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal C.E. Morris 190
Conservative David Evan Stephens 169
Majority 21
Liberal win (new seat)

Llanon
Llanon 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Rev W.E. Evans 146
Conservative Major Edward Riley 90
Majority 56
Liberal win (new seat)

Llansawel
Llansawel 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Sir J.H.W. Drummond, Bart. Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)

Llanstephan

Thomas Morris of Coomb was the son of William Morris, former Liberal MP for Carmarthen Boroughs.

Llanstephan 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Unionist Thomas Morris 197
Liberal John Johns 157
Majority 40
Liberal Unionist win (new seat)

Llanybyther
Llanybyther 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Col. H. Davies-Evans 267
Liberal D.H. James 246
Majority 21
Conservative win (new seat)

Mothvey
Mothvey 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal George Jones 176
Liberal John Lewis 136
Majority 40
Liberal win (new seat)

Pembrey (two seats)
Pembrey 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Liberal W.J. Buckley 176
Liberal William Howell 460
Liberal Rev D. Evans 397
Conservative T. Williams 394
Independent Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)

Quarter Bach
Quarter Bach 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Dr Howell Rees Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)

Rhydcymmerai
Rhydcymmerai 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Daniel Evans 165
Liberal Thomas Price 143
Majority 22
Liberal win (new seat)

St Clears
St Clears 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal T. Evans Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)

St Ishmael

J. Lewis Philipps of Bolahaul, near Carmarthen, had been a prominent figure in county government for many years and was chairman of the Carmarthen Board of Guardians from 1861 until 1884.[2]

St Ishmael 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative J. Lewis Philipps 203
Liberal Evan Stephens 180
Majority 23
Liberal win (new seat)

Trelech
Trelech 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal J. Davies 245
Liberal W. Phillips 181
Conservative D. Jones 108
Majority 40
Liberal win (new seat)

Whitland and Llanboidy (two seats)
Whitland and Llanboidy 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Rev. William Thomas 582
Liberal J. Llewelyn 452
Liberal J. Bagnall Evans 321
Conservative J. Beynon 206
Liberal win (new seat)
Liberal win (new seat)

Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the election of the initial sixteen aldermen, half of the aldermanic bench would be elected every three years following the triennial council election. After the initial elections, there were seventeen aldermanic vacancies and the following Alderman were appointed by the newly elected council (with the number of votes cast recorded in each case). A second vote was held to determine which aldermen should retire in three years.[3]

Elected for six years

  • John James, Llandovery (from outside the Council) 40
  • W.O. Brigstocke JP, Liberal (from outside the Council) 38
  • David Randell MP, Liberal (from outside the Council) 38
  • Dr J.A. Jones, Llanelly, Liberal (from outside the Council) 37
  • Lewis Morris 37
  • H. Nevill, Llanelli, Conservative (from outside the Council)
  • T. Williams, Llwynhendy, Liberal (from outside the Council) 33
  • D. Richards, Ammanford, Liberal (defeated candidate at Llandebie) 30
  • Joseph Joseph, Liberal (from outside the Council) 27
  • W.R. Edwards, Carmarthen, Liberal (from outside the Council)

Elected for three years

  • Col. Gwynnne Hughes JP, Liberal (from outside the Council) 36
  • hugh Nevill 36
  • J. Lewis Philipps, Carmarthen, Conservative (elected councillor for St Ishmaels) 35
  • Sir James Hills-Johnes, Conservative (defeated candidate at Caeo) 35
  • W. de G. Warren, Tenby, Liberal (from outside the Council) 34
  • Robert Scourfield, Llanstephan, Liberal (from outside the Council) 33
  • D. Bowen, Llandeilo, Liberal (from outside the Council) 32
  • J. Bagnall Evans JP, Liberal (defeated candidate at Whitland and Llanboidy) 31
  • D. James, Bailibedw, Liberal (from outside the Council) 31

As in Cardiganshire the Liberals agreed that the Conservatives be allocated three aldermanic seats only.[3] Only John Lewis Philipps was an elected member of the Council.

Initially, Lewis Morris had been elected an alderman but he declined on the basis that he had no sufficient time at his disposal. He was then replaced by W.R. Edwards at the second meeting of the Council.[4]

Aldermanic Vacanies, 1889-1892

David Bowen died a few weeks after his election as alderman, The council resolved to replace him with another representative from the Llandeilo area to serve for the remainder of the three-year term.[5]

  • Morgan Davies, Llandeilo, Liberal (from outside the Council)

Two vacancies arose in early 1891 following the resignation of W de G Warren and the death of J. Lewis Philipps. The vacancies were filled as followed.[6]

  • C.E. Morris, Liberal (elected member for Llangunnor)
  • David Evans, Llanelli, Liberal

Morgan Davies died in February 1892, shortly before the end of his term as alderman.[7]

By-elections

In contrast to the position in other counties only one by-election was caused by the election of aldermen. This was in St Ishmaels where the Liberal candidate captured the seat.

St Ishmaels by-election

Following the election of John Lewis Philipps as an alderman, a Liberal candidate captured the seat after a contest that took place in heavy snow.[8]

St Ishmaels by-election 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal J. Lloyd Thomas 276
Conservative D.T. Morris 98

By-elections, 1889-1892

Llanarthney by-election, 1889

Thomas Davies, Bremenda, the member for Llanarthney, died in August 1889 as a result of injuries sustained falling off his horse.[9] Rev R.G. Lawrence of Middleton Hall, an unsuccessful candidate at the election held earlier in the year was returned unopposed.[10]

Llanarthney by-election 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Rev R.G. Lawrence unopposed

Pembrey by-election, 1890

A by-election arose in the Pembrey ward following the appointment of William Howell as returning officer for the county.[11]

Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division) by-election, 1890

D. Rixon Morgan, the sitting member, resigned late in 1890. Professor D.E. Jones of the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, was chosen as his replacement as Liberal candidate.[12]

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) by-election, 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Professor D.E. Jones unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
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References
  1. "County Councils. The Carmarthenshire Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 1 February 1889. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  2. "Death of Mr J.L. Philipps JP, Bolahaul". Carmarthen Journal. 6 February 1891. p. 5. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  3. "Carmarthenshire County Council". Carmarthen Journal. 8 February 1889. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  4. "Carmarthenshire County Council. Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman". Carmarthen Journal. 1 March 1889. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  5. "Carmarthenshire County Council". Carmarthen Journal. 31 May 1889. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  6. "Carmarthenshire County Council. Quarterly Meeting". Carmarthen Journal. 13 March 1891. p. 5. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  7. "Death of Alderman Morgan Davies". Carmarthen Journal. 22 January 1892. p. 5. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  8. "Carmarthen County Council. Bye Election at St Ishmael's". Carmarthen Journal. 15 March 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  9. "Llanarthney". Carmarthen Journal. 30 August 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  10. "Llanddarog". Carmarthen Journal. 11 October 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  11. "Carmarthenshire County Council". Carmarthen Journal. 28 February 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  12. "Carmarthen County Council". Carmarthen Journal. 21 November 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 15 October 2015.

Bibliography
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