David Pugh (British politician)

David Pugh (1806 – 12 July 1890) was a Welsh landowner and Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1857 until 1868 and again from 1885 until his death in 1890.

Early Life and Career

Pugh was born at Green Hill, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire (which was later re-named Manoravon), the eldest son of Colonel David Heron Pugh, who was High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1819, and his wife Elizabeth Benyon, daughter of William Beynon of Trewern, Llanddewi Velfrey, Pembrokeshire.^[1] His brother, John William Pugh, was Vicar of Llandeilo for fifteen years.^[1]

Pugh was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford, graduating in 1828..^[2] In 1837 he was called to the Bar at Inner Temple and for some years he practiced on the Northern Circuit.

Local Government and Administration

From an early age, Pugh took a close interest in the life of his locality and never devoted himself fully to a legal career. From 1843 until 1852 he was Chairman of the Carmarthesnhire Quarter Sessions , and also served as a Justice of the Peace for Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire and as Deputy Lieutenant. He held a commission as a captain in the Carmarthenshire Rifle Volunteers.^[2]

Following the death of his brother in 1852, Pugh abandoned his legal career and settled at Manoravon, where he set about developing the estate. He purchased a considerable proportion of the neighbouring Gulston estate for £45,000 and also owned property through his mother's family in the Teifi valley and at St Clears.^[3] He was regarded as a popular landlord, partly due to his practice of supporting local tradesmen rather than those based in London.^[3] At the time of his death it was said that he regularly granted rent abatements at times of agricultural depression.^[4] This was often cited as a reason for his political success, particularly in later life.

Pugh owned nearly 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land.and was a well known breeder of shorthorn cattle.^[5]

He was patron and speaker at the Carmarthen Eisteddfod of 1867.^[6] He was owner of the Pwll Perkins mine, or Garnant Colliery where a disaster led to the loss of 10 lives in 1884.^[7] In 1887 he presented a church clock to Llandeilo Parish Church, although the issue of its upkeep caused controversy in the locality.^[4]

Political Career

In 1857, following the death of David Saunders Davies, Pugh was elected Member of Parliament for Carmarthenshire and served until 1868. During this period his politics were often regarded as somewhat ambiguous and he was described as both a Liberal and a Conservative.^[1] This proved his undoing at the 1868 General Election when he was defeated in a four-cornered contest for the two seats. On the one hand, Edward Sartoris, a radical Liberal actively sought the support of both the radical wing of the Liberal Party and the powerful nonconformist interest. The Conservatives, meanwhile, fielded both John Jones (brother of the previous member, David Jones, who stood down) and Henry Puxley, a landowner with extensive interests in Ireland. There was much focus during the campaign upon disestablishment of the Church of England in Ireland and Pugh's views were regarded as vague, thus alienating both traditional Conservatives who supported Jones and Puxley, and the more radical Liberals who were supported Sartoris.^[3] Pugh, who had been returned unopposed at previous elections, fought a lacklustre campaign, which was chiefly brought to life by the active support of Pugh's close friend, W.R.H. Powell. Although the result was determined to a great extent by a significant increase in the number of industrial workers who were enfranchised, Pugh's defeat was later ascribed to his 'hazy and indefinite opinions'.^[1] HBe was said to have accepted his defeat with 'good humour' but was thereafter regarded as a supporter of Gladstone.^[8]

Following his defeat, Pugh withdrew from active political life for some years, but served as High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1874.]].^[2]

In later years, Pugh's political views became more radical, and in 1884 he presided at a great demonstration, attended by hundreds of agricultural labourers, in Carmarthen in favour of franchise reform.^[9] By 1885 he fully supported disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales.^[3] Now nearing eighty years of age he was adopted as Liberal candidate for the new seat of East Carmarthenshire, and elected with a large majority over Sir Marteine Lloyd of Bronwydd.

Pugh supported Gladstone's Irish Home Rule Bill and was re-elected unopposed when a further general election was held in 1886. His attendance at the Commons during the following years was irregular and led to some criticism in the constituency.^[10] In 1890, Pugh announced that he would not be seeking re-election, but died soon afterwards.^[11]

Pugh never married. He died at the Metropole Hotel in London, aged 84.^[1]

References

1. "Death of Mr David Pugh MP.". South Wales Daily News. 14 July 1890. p. 6. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
2. Debretts Guide to the House of Commons 1886
3. "Representation of East Carmarthenshire. Biographical Sketch of Mr David Pugh". South Wales Daily News. 29 July 1885. p. 2. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
4. "Death of Mr D. Pugh M.P.". Western Mail. 14 July 1890. p. 6. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
5. Matthew Cragoe An Anglican Aristocracy:: The moral economy of the landed estate in Carmarthenshire 1832-1895 Oxford Historical Monographs 1996
6. The Carmarthen Eisteddfod of 1867.
7. Garnant Colliery
8. "Death of Mr David Pugh MP. Biographical Sketch.". Carmarthen Journal. 18 July 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
9. "Demonstration at Carmarthen. Imposing Procession.". South Wales Daily News. 8 October 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
10. "Liberalism in East Carmarthenshire. Criticism of Mr Pugh MP". Carmarthen Journal. 31 May 1889. p. 6. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
11. "Obituary". The Times. 14 July 1890. p. 7.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by David Pugh