David Davies, 1st Baron Davies

David Davies, 1st Baron Davies (11 May 1880 – 16 June 1944), was a politician and public benefactor, the grandson of the famous industrialist, David Davies "Llandinam".

Davies was born and died at Llandinam, Montgomeryshire. His father, Edward Davies, was Llandinam's only son. His two sisters, Gwen and Margaret, became known as patrons of the arts. He was educated at Merchiston Castle School and King's College, Cambridge, graduating in 1903.^[1]

Politically and personally, David now followed the lead set by his grandfather. From 1906 to 1929, he was the Liberal Member of Parliament for the Montgomeryshire constituency, and an active supporter of the League of Nations. In 1932 he established the New Commonwealth Society for ‘the promotion of international law and order’, writing several books on the right use of force, notably The Problem of the Twentieth Century (1930), which was translated into German and other languages. His ideas had an impact on the writing of the UN Charter, especially with regards to sanctions and the transition of national armies to an international police.

The barony was created for him in 1932.

He endowed the Chair in International Politics established at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, which also hosts the David Davies Memorial Institute of International Studies.

A statue was commissioned in his honour and stands in Llandinam in Powys on the A470. The Llandinam Building at Aberystwyth University was named in his honour.

References

1. ^ Davies, David in Venn, J. & J. A., Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University Press, 10 vols, 1922–1958.

Further reading

• Biography of Davies by K. O. Morgan, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford, 2004

External links

• Article about Davies by Dr J Graham Jones in Journal of Liberal History, Issue 29, Winter 2000-01
• Archival material relating to David Davies, 1st Baron Davies listed at the UK National Register of Archives

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Arthur Humphreys-Owen	Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire 1906–1929	Succeeded by Clement Davies
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by (new creation)	Baron Davies 1932–1944	Succeeded by David Davies