Abel Thomas
Abel Thomas (1848 – 23 July 1912) was a Welsh Liberal politician and lawyer.
Family
Thomas was the son of a
Education and law career
Thomas was educated at
Election to the House of Commons
In 1890 a vacancy arose in the
A series of meetings addressed by both Thomas and Evans were held throughout the constituency. It became clear from these meetings that there were differences between the candidates. Evans addressed the first meeting at Llandovery predominantly using the Welsh language, which invited a contrast with his opponent's limited knowledge of Welsh.[3] As a result, Thomas felt compelled at a subsequent meeting at Llandeilo to appeal that his lack of fluency in Welsh should not be held to support his opponent.[2] Evans placed himself firmly in the radical camp, supporting Home Rule. emphasising his prominent role as a member of Carmarthenshire County Council, and stating that he would follow in the footsteps of Mabon, David Randell and Tom Ellis. Thomas, in contrast expressed himself to be an opponent of Home Rule for Wales.[2] On 29 July, some three hundred delegates from throughout the constituency gathered at Ammanford to select a candidate. The proceedings were dominated by debates about the eligibility of various delegates to vote but eventually it was agreed to proceed on the basis of the credentials provided for those delegates in attendance. Abel Thomas was selected as Liberal candidate, defeating Gwilym Evans by 170 votes against 121.[4]
Maiden Speech
Upon his election, the Cambrian News predicted that Thomas would not be a silent member of the Commons.[5] He made his maiden speech on 1 December 1890 on issues relating to the position of the established church in Wales.[6]
Vote of Confidence and the 1892 Election
Within two years of his election there were criticisms of Thomas within the constituency, leading to a vote of no confidence by the Llandeilo Liberal Association in May 1892.
At the General Election some weeks later, Thomas was unexpectedly opposed by a Liberal Unionist candidate, the Swansea businessman Captain Thomas Davies. It was argued that Davies would gain support from Calvinistic Methodists, who opposed Thomas's links to the liquor trade.[9] Davies focused his campaign almost totally upon Irish Home Rule.[10] Thames was re-elected with a large majority.
The 1895 and 1900 General Elections
Thomas continued to represent the constituency while being largely inactive in Parliament. Few people, complained a Welshman editorial, could have concerned themselves less with the business of the constituency than Mr. Abel Thomas has done during the time he has been in Parliament.[11]
At the 1895 General Election, Thomas was opposed by E.E. Richardson of Glanbrydan Park. Richardson polled better than Davies three years earlier but Thomas still won a comfortable victory. He faced the same opponent at the 1900 General Election, once again with a similar result.
Later political career
He held the seat with comfortable majorities at each succeeding election, except in the
In 1907 the miners of the constituency nominated David Morgan, secretary of the Anthracite District of the SWMF as Thomas's successor. By the time he died in 1912, Thomas was regarded as 'elderly and silent' member.[12]
Death
Thomas died suddenly of heart failure on 23 July 1912 in his hotel at Swansea where he had gone for the Glamorgan Assizes.
References and other sources
- ^ a b "The Vacancy in East Carmarthenshire. Meeting of the Radical Executive Committee". Carmarthen Journal. 25 July 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ a b c "Meeting at Llandilo". Carmarthen Journal. 25 July 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ "Meeting at Llandovery". Carmarthen Journal. 25 July 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- ^ "The Vacancy in East Carmarthenshire". Carmarthen Journal. 1 August 1890. p. 8. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- ^ "Mr Abel Thomas (editorial)". Cambrian News. 1 August 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ "Tithe Rent Charge Recovery Bill, Second Reading. Commons debate 1 December 1890". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 1 December 1890.
- ^ "Mr Abel Thomas MP and his Constituents". Carmarthen Journal. 27 May 1892. p. 5. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "East Carmarthen Liberal Association ". Carmarthen Journal. 17 June 1892. p. 8. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "The General Election". Carmarthen Journal. 1 July 1892. p. 5. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "West Carmarthenshire [sic]. Captain Davies's Candidature". Carmarthen Journal. 8 July 1892. p. 5. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ "Editorial". Welshman. 22 February 1895. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ K O Morgan, Wales in British Politics; University of Wales Press, 1963 pp113 & 247
- Who was Who, OUP 2007
- Obituary – The Times, 24 July 1913
Sources
Books and Journals
- Rees, Ivor Thomas (2004). "The Seafaring Preacher; a note on Captain Thomas Davies, JP (1825–1905)". Journal of Welsh Religious History. New Series. 4: 102–7.
See also
- List of United Kingdom by-elections (1900-1918)