Leifchild Stratten Jones

The third of Thomas Jones’ sons, Leifchild Stratten Jones.

Leifchild was born January 1862, London.  It was during the late 1850s, when his father Thomas Jones, minister moved to London to preach at Frederick Street church, Albany, then moving during 1861 to Bedford chapel, Oakley Square.

Leifchild was only 5 years old when his mother, Jane died.  His father due to health reasons, moved to Swansea.  Then during 1877, Thomas Jones moved to Melbourne, Australia.  This is where Leifchild obtained his education, having studied at Scotch College from July 1877 to December 1878.  Further studies were continued at Trinity College, Oxford.  Leifchild, gained a ‘first’ for mathematics.

1905, Leifchild stood as the Liberal candidate for Appleby, Cumbria by-election. 

November 1904, Richard Rigg who had been Member of Parliament since the 1900 General Election, had resigned from the Liberal Party, and wanted to stand as Conservative candidate.  However, the Conservatives had already selected a 45-year-old Major George Nobel to stand.  December 1904, the Liberal party, selected the then 42-year-old Leifchild as their candidate.

Leifchild, had been a Private Secretary of the Countess of Carlisle, Rosalind Frances Howard.  Rosalind was known as The Radical Countess who had been a promoter of woman’s political rights and temperance movement.

Leifchild had also had previous experience candidate having fought during the 1892 Elections for Westminster, 1895 Elections for Leeds Central and 1900 Elections for Manchester South.

Leifchild launched his campaign condemning the Chinese Labour Act, the Education Act, 1902 and Joseph Chamberlain’s fiscal proposals – the decisions of the Unionist Government to abandon free trade to advocate the introduction of tariff reform.

Polling Day was set for 2^nd March, where Leifchild for the Liberals held the seat.  With the majority of 220.  The General Election of 1906, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice replaced George Nobel as the Conservative candidate.  Leitchild, stood for the Liberals.  He retained his seat with a majority of 3!

1917, Leifchild was sworn of the Privy Council.  During the 1920s, Leifchild served for Member of Parliament for Camborne, Cornwall.

During 1932, Leifchild was elevated to the peerage as Baron Rhayader, of Rhayader, County of Radnor.  He also changed his name, from Jones to Leif-Jones, so he could continue to be known by his familiar name.

However, Leifchild, would be best remembered as a temperance leader, in the Temperance Movement, where he was known as ‘Tea-Leaf Jones’.  He was also the President between 1906 to 1932 of the United Kingdom Alliance, Britain’s leading prohibitionist organisation.

September 1939, Leifchild Stratten Leif-Jones, 1^st Baron Rhayader died Marylebone, London.  His barony became extinct.