Commons 1790-1820

Richard Myddelton of Chirk Castle, whose family had represented Denbigh continuously since 1722, was returned unopposed until his early death in 1796, whereupon the estates and interest devolved upon his sisters and coheiresses, none of whom was then married. In this interregnum a neighbouring landed gentleman Thomas Jones of Carreghwva filled the vacancy, insisting on his independence. In 1798 Maria Myddelton, whose portion included Holt, married Frederick West, who took up residence at Chirk Castle and was returned at the election of 1802.Oldfield, Rep. Hist. vi.

The hold of the Williams Wynn family of Wynnstay over the county representation remained unchallenged in this period. During the minority of Sir Watkin, 5th Bt., whose father had held the seat until his death in 1789, a ‘particular friend and relation’ of the family,NLW, Brogyntyn mss 1567, Anne Shakerley to Godolphin Owen, 27 June 1790. Wynne of Plas Newydd, acted as a stopgap. Sir Watkin claimed the seat in 1796 and held it until his death. Nothing came of a rumour of opposition in 1812.NLW, Aston Hall mss 2504, Lady Temple to Louisa Lloyd, 6 Oct. [1812].

Carmarthen was the most unruly borough in Wales and elections there continued to be dominated, as they had been for 50 years past, by the rivalry of the Blue and Red factions. In this period, the Whig Blues were triumphant; and it was a renegade from their camp, the firebrand John Jones, who from 1812 onwards revived the Red party nominally led by Lord Dynevor and secured their vengeance in the by-election of 1821.G. Roberts, Hist. Cam. ed. Lloyd, ii. 1-87; R. D. Rees, ‘Parl. Rep. S. Wales 1790-1830’ (Reading Univ. Ph.D. thesis, 1962), i. 176.

For the last half-century Carmarthenshire politics had been dominated by the rival houses of Rice of Dynevor (alias Newton) and Vaughan of Golden Grove.G. Roberts, Hist. Carm. ed. Lloyd, ii. 1-87; R. D. Rees, ‘Parl. Rep. S. Wales 1790-1830’ (Reading Univ. Ph.D. thesis, 1962), i.

The Cardigan boroughs had been keenly contested throughout the 18th century among the county families but there was no contest in this period until 1812.

The county had not gone to a poll since 1741 and the tendency of the aligned county families to avert the threat of a contest by compromise again operated in this period when vacancies arose in 1796 and 1816.R. D. Rees, ‘Parl. Rep. S. Wales 1790-1830’ (Reading Univ. Ph.D. thesis, 1962), i. 137. In 1790 Lord Lisburne was returned for the fifth consecutive election: since 1774 he and the family of Thomas Johnes of Hafod had been allies in county politicsNLW, Trawsgoed deeds iii. 24, Wilmot Vaughan to Johnes, 9 Mar. 1774. and were too strong for opposition.

The fratricidal struggle between Thomas Wynn, 1st Baron Newborough, and Glynn Wynn at the 1784 election marked the eclipse of the supremacy of the Wynns of Glynllifon in the boroughs.P. D. G. Thomas, Trans. Caern. Hist. Soc. xx. 72; K. Evans, ibid. viii.

The dominance of the influence of Thomas James, 1st Baron Bulkeley, of Baron Hill, which had secured the return of John Parry of Wernfawr in 1780 and 1784, was further confirmed in 1790, when Parry made way for Robert Williams, Bulkeley’s uterine brother.P. D. G. Thomas, Trans. Caern. Hist. Soc. xx.

Brecon remained a pocket borough of the Morgan family of Tredegar, who controlled the self-elected corporation of 15, which in turn had the sole right to create freemen. The number of freemen was kept low.R. D. Rees, ‘Parl. Rep. S. Wales 1790-1830’ (Reading Univ. Ph.D. thesis, 1962), i. 130. This arrangement was challenged for the first time since 1740 in 1818, by which time the population had grown to nearly 4,000. Walter Wilkins, son of the Radnorshire Member, stood on behalf of the inhabitant householders.

County politics were dominated by three estates, Dderw, Gwernyfed and the Priory, all in the possession of absentee families who had inherited them through the female line. Dderw belonged to the Morgans of Tredegar, whose chief interests were in Monmouthshire, and on the death of John Morgan in 1792 was inherited by his brother-in-law Sir Charles Gould, who took the name of Morgan.