Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet

Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet (28 April 1852 – 10 May 1927), commonly known as Frank Edwards, was a British Liberal Party politician.

Sir Francis was the fourth son of Edward Edwards of Llangollen. Educated at Shrewsbury School and Jesus College, Oxford (graduated 1875). Married in 1880 to Catherine, daughter of David Davis of Aberdare. The marriage had issue, one daughter.

Edwards served as Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Radnorshire. In 1898, he was High Sheriff of the County. Member of Parliament for Radnorshire 1892-1895, 1900- January 1910 and December 1910-1918. He was created baronet in 1907. He did not stand in 1918, the Radnorshire Constituency having been amalgamated with Brecon.

Edwards was a determined Liberal and a supporter of the Disestablishment of the Church in Wales, of which he was a member. In 1894, Edwards joined with David Lloyd George, David Alfred Thomas and Herbert Lewis in resigning the Liberal Whip in protest at the delay of the Government of Lord Rosebery in introducing a Welsh Disestablishment measure. He was a relative of Alfred George Edwards, Bishop of St. Asaph, and first Archbishop of Wales.

Defeated in 1895, Edwards was to play no part in the struggle to unite Welsh Liberalism under the auspices of Cymru Fydd. Edwards appears to have been viewed as under the ‘baleful’ influence of David Alfred Thomas by Lloyd George and Herbert Lewis. In 1900, Edwards fought Radnorshire on a platform of opposition to the Boer War.

Francis Edwards published a volume of Welsh poetry entitled 'Translations from the Welsh' in 1913.

References

* National Library of Wales: Lloyd George Papers
* National Library of Wales: Herbert Lewis Papers
* Dictionary of Welsh Biography.
*rayment