Hon. William Owen Stanley (13 November 1802 – 24 February 1884) was a British

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

politician.

Life

Stanley was the son of

John Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley John Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley (26 November 1766 – 23 October 1850), known as Sir John Stanley, 7th Baronet, from 1807 to 1839, was a British peer and politician. Life Stanley was the son of Sir John Thomas Stanley FRSE (17 ...

, and Lady Maria Josepha, daughter of

John Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield (21 December 1735 – 30 May 1821) was an English politician who came from a Yorkshire family, a branch of which had settled in the Kingdom of Ireland. Biography His grandfather was Isaac Holroyd (164 ...

. His elder twin brother was

Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley Edward John Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley (13 November 180216 June 1869), known as The Lord Eddisbury between 1848 and 1850, was a British politician. Background Stanley was the son of John Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley, and ...

. He became a solicitor. Stanley married Ellin Williams, daughter of Sir John Williams of

Bodelwyddan Bodelwyddan () is a village, Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom, electoral ward and community (Wales), community in Denbighshire, Wales, approximately 5 miles (8 km) South of Rhyl. The Parish includes several smaller hamle ...

, Flintshire in 1832. He was heir to Penrhos estate in Anglesey where he lived throughout his life.Cheshire Record Office
/ref> Stanley was a

member of parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

(MP) for

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...

1837–1847, City of Chester 1850–1857 and

Beaumaris Beaumaris ( ; cy, Biwmares ) is a town and community on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, of which it is the former county town of Anglesey. It is located at the eastern entrance to the Menai Strait, the tidal waterway separating Anglesey from ...

1857–1874. He was also the

Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey. Since 1761, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Anglesey. The office was abolished on 31 March 1974. Lord Lieutenants of Anglesey to 1974 *''see Lord Lieute ...

2 March 1869 – 24 February 1884, Stanley was a captain and adjutant in the

Grenadier Guards "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it." , colors = , colors_label = , march = Slow: " Scipio" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment ...

. As an

antiquarian An antiquarian or antiquary () is an fan (person), aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artifact (archaeology), artifac ...

of wide reputation, he was the author of ''Anglesey'' (1871) and contributed many Celtic contributions, especially on Celtic subjects and his excavations at

Holyhead Holyhead (,; cy, Caergybi , "Cybi's fort") is the largest town and a community in the county of Isle of Anglesey, Wales, with a population of 13,659 at the 2011 census. Holyhead is on Holy Island, bounded by the Irish Sea to the north, and is ...

and Castell, Anglesey, to ''

Archaeologia Cambrensis ''Archaeologia Cambrensis'' is a Welsh archaeological and historical scholarly journal published annually by the Cambrian Archaeological Association. It contains historical essays, excavation reports, and book reviews, as well as society notes ...

''. In 1855 he oversaw the building of

Holyhead Market Hall Holyhead Market Hall, located in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales, is a Listed building, Grade II listed building built in 1855. It was commissioned by the local landowner and politician William Owen Stanley and built by J. Edwards Thomas. As well as h ...

, which stands today, albeit as a library and offices. Stanley donated a collection of antiquities from Anglesey to the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

in 1870 and 1881.British Museum Collection
/ref> His monument is in

St Cybi's Church, Holyhead St Cybi's Church is a medieval church near the Roman Caer Gybi (fort), Caer Gybi in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales. The church was Grade I listed buildings, Grade I listed in January 1968. The original church was constructed at Holyhead around 540 AD ...

References

External links

* * 1802 births 1884 deaths Whig (British political party) MPs for English constituencies Liberal Party (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies UK MPs 1837–1841 UK MPs 1841–1847 UK MPs 1847–1852 UK MPs 1852–1857 UK MPs 1857–1859 UK MPs 1859–1865 UK MPs 1865–1868 UK MPs 1868–1874 Grenadier Guards officers Members of the Cambrian Archaeological Association Younger sons of barons British twins Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Beaumaris Whig (British political party) MPs for Welsh constituencies {{England-UK-MP-stub