The 1857

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire ( cy, Sir Gaerfyrddin; or informally ') is a county in the south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. The county is known as ...

by-election was fought in June 1857. The by-election arose because of the death of the incumbent

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

MP,

David Arthur Saunders Davies David Arthur Saunders Davies (9 June 1792 – 22 May 1857) was a British Conservative politician, and barrister. Saunders Davies was the son of David Davies, a physician, who married Susanna, daughter and heiress of Erasmus Saunders of Pentre. H ...

. It was won by the

candidate David Pugh, who prevailed against the opposition of many within the party.

Candidates

John Lloyd Davies John Lloyd Davies (1 November 1801 – 21 March 1860) was a Welsh lawyer and politician, originally from the Aberystwyth area, who represented Cardigan boroughs in Parliament between 1855 and 1857. He was born "in humble curcumstances", to whic ...

, who had stood down as member for Cardigan Boroughs at the recent election, having faced certain defeat when opposed by

Edward Pryse Colonel Edward Lewis Pryse (27 June 1817 – 29 May 1888) was a British Liberal politician. Pryse entered the military in 1836, before becoming captain of the Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards), and retiring in 1846. From 1857 to 1888, he was ...

, was first in the field. He issued an address within days of the late member's death and emphasised his role in the public life of the county for thirty years. However, it was soon rumoured that David Pugh had the support of a large proportion of the county gentry. On 3 June, Charles Bishop convened a meeting at the Ivy Bush Hotel in Carmarthen to choose a candidate. The meeting was chaired by Sir John Mansel and addressed by two of the aspirants, John Lloyd Davies and Sir James Hamilton. David Pugh was not present and it was unclear whether he would abide by the decision of the meeting.

Howel Gwyn Howel Gwyn (24 June 1806 – 25 January 1888) of Dyffryn, Neath, was a British Conservative politician, who represented Penryn and Falmouth (1847–57) and Brecon (1866–68). Early life Gwyn was the son of William Gwyn and Mary Anne Roberts ...

, former MP for Falmouth, was also mentioned but had little support. A lengthy discussion ensued, which ended with Pugh being omitted from a ballot in which John Lloyd Davies secured a majority over Sir James Hamilton. This was the county that he would have been heavily defeated at a contested election. Pugh's selection was described by the ''Welshman'' as a reflection of a consensus which enabled moderate supporters of both the Liberal and Conservative factions to support him.

Outcome

Pugh was duly returned after the hustings at

Llandeilo Llandeilo () is a town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Towy by the A483 on a 19th-century stone bridge. Its population was 1,795 at the 2011 Census. It is adjacent to the westernmost point of the B ...

on 12 June, when he was proposed by W.R.H. Powell of Maesgwynne. The ''Welshman'' stated that Pugh "was chosen, not by any party, but by the constituents as a body, without any reference to political distinctions."

References

{{reflist 1857 elections in the United Kingdom By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Welsh constituencies 1857 in Wales 1850s elections in Wales