Thomas Johnes (c. 1721–1780) was a Welsh politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

between 1777 and 1780. Johnes was the eldest son of Thomas Johnes, MP, of Llanfair, Cardiganshire, and his wife Mary Anne Powell, daughter of Jeremiah Powell of Cwmelan. He entered

Inner Temple The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional associations for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wal ...

in 1738 and was

Custos Rotulorum of Cardiganshire This is a list of people who have served as Custos Rotulorum of Cardiganshire. * Walter Devereux, 1st Viscount Hereford 1543–1558 * John Price 1558 – aft. 1579 * George Devereux c. 1584 * Richard Price 1590 – 1592, 1594 – ...

from 1741 to his death. In his youth he was notable in London society, and his guests at Llanfair included

Sir Charles Hanbury Williams Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, KB (8 December 1708 – 2 November 1759) was a Welsh diplomat, writer and satirist. He was a Member of Parliament from 1734 until his death. Early life Hanbury was the son of a Welsh ironmaster and Member of Parl ...

, Henry Fox, and

Richard Rigby Richard Rigby PC (February 1722 – 8 April 1788), was an English civil servant and politician who sat in the British House of Commons for 43 years from 1745 to 1788. He served as Chief Secretary for Ireland and Paymaster of the Forces. Rigby ...

. He married Elizabeth Knight, daughter of Richard Knight (1693–1765) of

Croft Castle Croft Castle is a country house in the village of Croft, Herefordshire, England. Owned by the Croft family since 1085, the castle and estate passed out of their hands in the 18th century, before being repurchased by the family in 1923. In 1957 ...

, Herefordshire in about 1746. Croft Castle - geograph

After his marriage, Johnes lived in Herefordshire, but was active in politics in Cardiganshire for many years. His family was Whig by tradition. He was a candidate for

Cardiganshire Ceredigion ( , , ) is a county in the west of Wales, corresponding to the historic county of Cardiganshire. During the second half of the first millennium Ceredigion was a minor kingdom. It has been administered as a county since 1282. Cere ...

1741 Events January–March * January 13 – Lanesborough, Massachusetts is created as a township. * February 13 – Sir Robert Walpole, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, popularizes the term "the balance of power" in a spe ...

and 1747, but withdrew each time. Later he acted as election manager for the Lloyd family of Peterwell, negotiating the election of John Lloyd for Cardiganshire in 1754 and of

Herbert Lloyd Major General Herbert William Lloyd, (18 November 1883 – 10 August 1957) was an Australian Army officer who served in the First and Second World Wars. Early life and career Herbert William Lloyd was born in South Yarra, Melbourne, the son o ...

for Cardigan Boroughs in

1761 Events January–March * January 14 – Third Battle of Panipat: Ahmad Shah Durrani and his coalition decisively defeat the Maratha Confederacy, and restore the Mughal Empire to Shah Alam II. * January 16 – Siege of Pondi ...

. Early in 1760, he boasted to the

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that he had always shown attachment to Government. He was also associated with Lord Powis, who in 1765 backed a patronage request of his to Grenville with the assertion, “If I can depend upon anyone I am persuaded I can depend upon Mr. Johnes”. In the 1760s Johnes remodelled Croft Castle in the Rococo-Gothic style to the design of the architect Thomas Pritchard.Kearley, Susie, ''Survival Skills'' (article on history of Croft Castle), ''Victorian Homes'' magazine, 9 April 201

/ref> In the 1774 British general election, 1774 general election Johnes was defeated at

Radnorshire , HQ = Presteigne , Government = Radnorshire County Council (1889–1974) Radnorshire District Council (1974–1996) , Origin = , Status = historic county, administrative county , Start ...

while his son

Thomas Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the Ap ...

successfully (but only after a petition) contested Cardigan Boroughs. Johnes senior was however returned unopposed for Radnorshire at the by-election on 27 July 1777 caused by the sitting member's death. During his three years in Parliament he supported the North ministry and in 1779 was appointed

Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire. After 1762, all Lord Lieutenants were also Custos Rotulorum of Carmarthenshire. The office was abolished on 31 March 1974 and replaced by the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed ...

. Johnes died in May 1780. His son Thomas succeeded him as MP for Radnorshire.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnes, Thomas 1720s births 1780 deaths Members of the Inner Temple Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Welsh constituencies British MPs 1774–1780 Lord-Lieutenants of Carmarthenshire Year of birth uncertain