Sir Robert Thomas, 1st Baronet

Sir Robert John Thomas, 1st Baronet (23 April 1873 – 27 September 1951) was a Welsh businessman and Liberal Party politician, who was twice elected to Parliament.

Sir Robert Thomas

Thomas was a ship and insurance broker.[1] In 1918 he was created a Baronet, of Garreglwyd in the County of Anglesey.[2][3]

Politics

He was elected at the 1918 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the new constituency of Wrexham. Standing as a Liberal, with the official backing of the David Lloyd George led Coalition Government, he faced only a Labour Party opponent and won 76% of the votes.

General election 1918: Wrexham [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Robert Thomas 20,874 76.3 n/a
Labour Hugh Hughes 6,500 23.7 n/a
Majority 14,374 52.6 n/a
Turnout 69.7 n/a
Liberal win

At the 1922 general election he stood as a National Liberal Party candidate for Anglesey, losing by a margin of 9% to the sitting Labour MP Sir Owen Thomas.

1922 General Election: Anglesey[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Owen Thomas 11,929 54.2 +3.8
National Liberal Robert Thomas 10,067 45.8 -3.8
Majority 1,862 8.4 +7.6
Turnout 80.5
Labour hold Swing -3.8

However, Owen Thomas died in January 1923, and at the resulting by-election in April Robert Thomas won a 3-way contest with 53% of the votes, and a 23% majority over the second-placed Labour candidate.[6]

1923 Anglesey by-election [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Robert Thomas 11,116 53.3 +7.5
Labour Edward John 6,368 30.5 -23.7
Unionist Richard Owen Roberts 3,385 16.2 n/a
Majority 22.8
Turnout 76.4
Liberal gain from Labour Swing +15.6

He was returned unopposed at the general election in December 1923. He was returned by a majority of 28% over his Labour opponent at the election in 1924.

General election 1924: Anglesey[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Robert Thomas 13,407 63.9
Labour Cyril O Jones 7,580 36.1
Majority 5,827 27.8
Turnout 74
Liberal hold Swing

He stood down from Parliament at the 1929 general election.

gollark: But you need to click buy and sell on the right things.
gollark: For now.
gollark: Inflation is 2% or so mostly, so it's still quite high.
gollark: It's probably not wise to assume you'll forever get 8% a year, though.
gollark: I would invest money if I had significant money to invest, which I do not.

References
  1. Kidd, Charles; Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
  2. "No. 30876". The London Gazette. 30 August 1918. p. 10173.
  3. Leigh Rayment's list of baronets
  4. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  5. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  6. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  7. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  8. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949

Further reading
  • Richards, Emlyn. Syr Robert John Thomas, y Garreglwyd (Sir Ifor Williams Memorial lecture.) Given in Anglesey, 31 October 1997
Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member of Parliament for Wrexham
1918 – 1922		 Succeeded by
Robert Richards
Preceded by
Sir Owen Thomas		 Member of Parliament for Anglesey
1923 – 1929		 Succeeded by
Megan Lloyd George
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
(of Garreglwyd)
1918 – 1951		 Succeeded by
William Eustace Rhyddlad Thomas

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