David Brynmor Jones

The first of Thomas Jones’ sons, David Brynmor Jones.

David Brynmor Jones 1895

David was born 1851.  When he was 7 years old, his parents moved to London, where David became a pupil at University College School, London.  Aged 16, David’s mother, Jane died, his father moved back to Swansea for health reasons, where he was ministry at the new Congregational church, Walter’s Road.

David became a student at University College, London.

After completing his studies David was called from the Middle Temple to the bar, 1876.  Practised the South Wales circuit, before becoming a County Court Judge, by 1885.  He resigned during 1892, took the silk, before entering public life.

From 1892 to 1895, David was the Liberal Member of Parliament for Stroud.  IN the 1892 election, he stood against Conservative candidate George Holloway.  From 1895, David was the Member of Parliament for the Swansea District.  During the 1895 Elections, David had a strong nonconformist connection, but his political career was undistinguished, and he concentrated on his legal career. In this election, he stood against, Independent Liberal-Labour candidate Ernest Hall Hedley and Conservative candidate John Wright.

Both the 1900 and 1906 Elections, David stood unopposed.  1910, the year of two Elections, the first Election of January, David stood against the Conservative candidate Robert Campbell.  Both the 1910 Swansea District by-elections and the December Elections he stood unopposed.  There was a further Swansea District by-election of 1914, where he stood unopposed.

After David resigned his seat that year, 1914, he was appointed the Master in Lunacy. 

The Master in Lunacy is a judicial appointment appointed by Lord Chancellor to conduct inquiries into the state of mind of people alleged to be lunatics. 

David Brynmor Jones 1906

Also, during 1906, David was knight and he entered the Privy Council during 1912. 

David assumed the surname Byrnmor-Jones, was a fluent Welsh speaker, he took an interest in the Welsh legal history, took part in the drafting a charter of University of Wales.   1907, David was placed on the Welsh Church Commission.

With the academic, John Rhys, David wrote the book “The Welsh People”, 1900

In his personal live, David married Florence Cohen during 1892.  During the Second Boer War, Florence, who organized the funding of a military field hospital, which became known as the “The Welsh Hospital”.  Florence died 1920.

A year later, 1921, David died at Ilfracombe.