- Merionethshire by-election, 1899
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The Merionethshire by-election, 1899 was a parliamentary by-election held for the House of Commons constituency of Merionethshire on 2 May 1899.
Contents
Vacancy
The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting Liberal MP, Thomas Edward Ellis on 5 April 1899. [1]
Candidates
Merionethshire Liberal Association considered a number of possible candidates but the favourite from an early stage was Owen Morgan Edwards, an academic at Lincoln College, Oxford, a native of Merionethshire who was described as an ardent Welsh Nationalist. [2] Edwards was hardly enthusiastic to take up the offer of being the Liberal candidate. He wrote to Dr Edward Jones, chairman of the county Liberals, that he had many days of anxiety and sleepless nights since learning he was the front-runner. He said that he would be relieved if not called upon to stand and would rather not take the position unless absolutely needed. [3]
The Conservatives had fought Merionethshire at the 1895 general election and at its meeting in Dolgellau on 14 April 1899 resolved that the seat should be contested at the by-election. No candidate was selected at that time however and the matter was postponed. Once Edwards was adopted by the Liberals, the Conservatives met again at Barmouth and this time decided not to oppose him. [4]
The result
There being no other candidates putting themselves forward, Edwards was returned unopposed. [5] He did not enjoy parliamentary life however and did not seek re-election at the general election of 1900.
Merionethshire by-election, 1899 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Owen Morgan Edwards Unopposed N/A N/A Liberal hold Swing N/A References
See also
« 25th Parliament « By-elections to the 26th Parliament of the United Kingdom » 27th Parliament » 1895 August: West Cavan • Inverness Burghs • September: Dublin St Stephen’s Green • South Kerry • Limerick • Waterford • November: Kensington South • Liverpool East Toxteth • Harrow • December: Dublin University1896 January: Belfast North • St Pancras South • Brixton • February: Paddington South • Wycombe • Montrose Burghs • Southampton • Lichfield • March: South Louth • East Kerry • April: Dublin College Green • North Kerry • May: Aberdeen North • Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities • June: Frome • Wick Burghs • November: Bradford East1897 January: Cleveland • Salisbury • Forfarshire • February: Romford • Walthamstow • Glasgow Bridgeton • Chertsey • March: Halifax • June: Petersfield • July: South Roscommon • August: Sheffield Brightside • September: East Denbighshire • October: Barnsley • November: Middleton • Liverpool Exchange • Deptford1898 January: Plymouth • York • Mid Armagh • Dublin St Stephen’s Green • February: South East Durham • Marylebone West • Wolverhampton South • Birmingham Edgbaston • Pembrokeshire • Cricklade • March: Stepney • Maidstone • Wokingham • May: West Staffordshire • Newark • South Norfolk • June: Hertford • Durham • July: Gravesend • West Down • Reading • August: Great Grimsby • Launceston • Southport • September: North Down • Darlington • October: Ormskirk • November: North Fermanagh • Oxford • December: Liverpool Kirkdale1899 January: Aylesbury • Newton • Epsom • February: Birmingham North • Londonderry • North West Lanarkshire • Rotherham • North Antrim • March: Hythe • Elland • North Norfolk • April: Harrow • May: Merionethshire • Oxford University • Southport • June: Edinburgh South • Edinburgh East • July: Osgoldcross • Oldham • St Pancras East • October: Bow and Bromley • November: Exeter • December: Wells1900 February: London University • York • Mid Armagh • Rossendale • Newark • Plymouth • South Mayo • March: North Sligo • Brixton • Holborn • May: Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities • Portsmouth • Dublin University • Isle of Wight • Manchester South • July: WiltonCategories:- 1899 elections in the United Kingdom
- By-elections to the United Kingdom Parliament in Welsh constituencies
- Unopposed by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom
- 1899 in Wales
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