Samuel Evans (British politician): Difference between revisions
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==Legal career== |
==Legal career== |
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He qualified as a solicitor in 1883. |
He qualified as a solicitor in 1883. On 28 April 1891 he was admitted to the [[Middle Temple]] and on 10 June 1891 he was [[Call to the Bar|called to the Bar]]<ref>Williamson, J.B. (1937). ''The Middle Temple Bench Book''. 2nd edition, p.270.</ref>. |
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Evans gained a large practice on the South Wales circuit and in 1901 he became the last [[Queen's Counsel|QC]] appointed by [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]. He served on the Neath Town Council during the 1880s. He was a [[Recorder (judge)|Recorder]] of [[Swansea]] from 1906 to 1908 and became a [[Bencher]] of the [[Middle Temple]] in 1908. His reputation as a judge rests mostly on his role as President of the [[Prize Court]] established during the [[First World War]]. |
Evans gained a large practice on the South Wales circuit and in 1901 he became the last [[Queen's Counsel|QC]] appointed by [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]. He served on the Neath Town Council during the 1880s. He was a [[Recorder (judge)|Recorder]] of [[Swansea]] from 1906 to 1908 and became a [[Bencher]] of the [[Middle Temple]] in 1908. His reputation as a judge rests mostly on his role as President of the [[Prize Court]] established during the [[First World War]]. |
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Revision as of 16:36, 14 December 2018
Sir Samuel Thomas Evans, GCB, PC (4 May 1859 – 13 September 1918), was a Welsh barrister, judge and Liberal politician.
Background and education
Evans was born at Skewen, near Neath, Glamorganshire, the only son of John Evans, a grocer, and his wife Margaret, both originally of Cardiganshire. He was educated in Swansea, at University College, Aberystwyth, and the University of London.
Family
Evans married firstly Rachel, daughter of William Thomas, in 1887. They had one son. After his first wife's death in 1889 he married secondly Blanche, daughter of Charles Rule, in 1905. They had one daughter.
Legal career
He qualified as a solicitor in 1883. On 28 April 1891 he was admitted to the Middle Temple and on 10 June 1891 he was called to the Bar[1]. Evans gained a large practice on the South Wales circuit and in 1901 he became the last QC appointed by Queen Victoria. He served on the Neath Town Council during the 1880s. He was a Recorder of Swansea from 1906 to 1908 and became a Bencher of the Middle Temple in 1908. His reputation as a judge rests mostly on his role as President of the Prize Court established during the First World War.
Political career
In 1889, Evans sought election to the inaugural Glamorgan County Council but was unsuccessful both at the initial election and the by-election which followed the successful Conservative candidate's elevation to the aldermanic bench.
In 1890 he was elected to the House of Commons for Mid Glamorgan. He combined his parliamentary work with his legal practice in Wales. He was re-elected in 1892, 1895 and at the Khaki General Election of 1900;
At the General Election of January/February 1906 he was returned Unopposed.[2] In October 1906 upon appointment as Recorder of Swansea, in accordance with the times he was required to seek re-election and in the by-election he was returned unopposed. In 1908, he was appointed Solicitor-General in the Liberal administration of H. H. Asquith and knighted upon taking office.
He was re-elected at the following general election, in January 1910;
He was then sworn of the Privy Council in 1910. In March 1910 Evans decided to give up his political career and accept the post of President of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice. His appointment was not popular with the legal establishment as he was considered to have little experience in these fields. He was appointed a GCB in 1916. However, he declined the offer of a peerage.
Evans died in September 1918 aged 59 and was buried at Skewen.
Electoral results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Samuel Evans | 7,027 | 75.8 | ||
Conservative | H.Phillips | 2,244 | 24.2 | ||
Majority | 4,783 | 51.6 | |||
Turnout | 9,271 | 67.8 | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Samuel Evans | 13,175 | 79.6 | +3.8 | |
Conservative | Godfrey Williams | 3,382 | 20.4 | −3.8 | |
Majority | 9,793 | 59.2 | +7.6 | ||
Turnout | 16,557 | 82.7 | ' | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | +3.8 |
References
- ^ Williamson, J.B. (1937). The Middle Temple Bench Book. 2nd edition, p.270.
- ^ The Times House of Commons Guide 1910, 1911, 1919, Poltico's Publishing Page 92 1910 Section
- ^ The Times House of Commons Guide 1910, 1911, 1919, Poltico's Publishing Page 92 1910 Section
- ^ The Times House of Commons Guide 1910, 1911, 1919, Poltico's Publishing Page 92 1910 Section
Sources
Books and Journals
- Davis, H. W. C.; Weaver, J. R. H. The Dictionary of National Biography. 1912-1921. Oxford University Press.
Online
- Llewelfryn Davies, D.J. "Sir Samuel Thomas Evans". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
Other
External links
- 1859 births
- 1918 deaths
- Welsh judges
- Liberal Party (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies
- Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division judges
- UK MPs 1886–92
- UK MPs 1892–95
- UK MPs 1895–1900
- UK MPs 1900–06
- UK MPs 1906–10
- UK MPs 1910
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- Knights Bachelor
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Politicians awarded knighthoods
- 19th-century Welsh lawyers
- 20th-century British judges
- 19th-century British judges