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The first election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in January 1889.^[1] It was followed by the 1892 election.

Overview of the result

1889 was one of those landmark years in the history of Welsh Liberalism, a coming of age symbolized by the triumph across Wales of Liberal candidates in the inaugural county council elections.

Candidates and unopposed returns

Most of the seats were contested by Liberal and Conservative candidates. The number of unopposed returns was small.

Contested elections

There were a large number of contested elections and the majorities were small in most instances.

Summary of results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. This was the inaugural county election and therefore no comparison can be made with the previous elections. In some cases there is an ambiguity in the sources over the party affiliations and this is explained below where relevant.

This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 48 councillors were elected.

Ward results

Abergwili

Bettws

Caio

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

Cenarth

Cilycwm

Conwil

Kidwelly

Laugharne

Llanarthney

Llandebie

Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Urban

Llandovery

Llanedy

Llanegwad

Llanelly Rural and Ward No.1 (six seats)

Llanelly Ward No.2 (three seats)

Llanelly Ward No.3 (two seats)

Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llangadock

Llangeler

Llangendeirne

Llangennech

Llangunnor

Llanon

Llansawel

Llanstephan

Llanybyther

Mothvey

Pembrey (two seats)

Quarter Bach

Rhydcymmerai

St Clears

St Ishmael

J. Lewis Philipps of Bolahaul, near Carmarthen, had been a prominent figure in county government for many years and was chairman of the Carmarthen Board of Guardians from 1861 until 1884.^[2]

Trelech

Whitland and Llanboidy (two seats)

Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the election of the initial sixteen aldermen, half of the aldermanic bench would be elected every three years following the triennial council election. After the initial elections, there were seventeen aldermanic vacancies and the following Alderman were appointed by the newly elected council (with the number of votes cast recorded in each case). A second vote was held to determine which aldermen should retire in three years.^[3]

Elected for six years

• John James, Llandovery (from outside the Council) 40


• W.O. Brigstocke JP, Liberal (from outside the Council) 38


• David Randell MP, Liberal (from outside the Council) 38


• Dr J.A. Jones, Llanelly, Liberal (from outside the Council) 37


• Lewis Morris 37


• H. Nevill, Llanelli, Conservative (from outside the Council)


• T. Williams, Llwynhendy, Liberal (from outside the Council) 33


• D. Richards, Ammanford, Liberal (defeated candidate at Llandebie) 30


• Joseph Joseph, Liberal (from outside the Council) 27


• W.R. Edwards, Carmarthen, Liberal (from outside the Council)

Elected for three years

• Col. Gwynnne Hughes JP, Liberal (from outside the Council) 36


• hugh Nevill 36


• J. Lewis Philipps, Carmarthen, Conservative (elected councillor for St Ishmaels) 35


• Sir James Hills-Johnes, Conservative (defeated candidate at Caeo) 35


• W. de G. Warren, Tenby, Liberal (from outside the Council) 34


• Robert Scourfield, Llanstephan, Liberal (from outside the Council) 33


• D. Bowen, Llandeilo, Liberal (from outside the Council) 32


• J. Bagnall Evans JP, Liberal (defeated candidate at Whitland and Llanboidy) 31


• D. James, Bailibedw, Liberal (from outside the Council) 31

As in Cardiganshire the Liberals agreed that the Conservatives be allocated three aldermanic seats only.^[3] Only John Lewis Philipps was an elected member of the Council.

Initially, Lewis Morris had been elected an alderman but he declined on the basis that he had no sufficient time at his disposal. He was then replaced by W.R. Edwards at the second meeting of the Council.^[4]

Aldermanic Vacanies, 1889-1892

David Bowen died a few weeks after his election as alderman, The council resolved to replace him with another representative from the Llandeilo area to serve for the remainder of the three-year term.^[5]

• Morgan Davies, Llandeilo, Liberal (from outside the Council)

Two vacancies arose in early 1891 following the resignation of W de G Warren and the death of J. Lewis Philipps. The vacancies were filled as followed.^[6]

• C.E. Morris, Liberal (elected member for Llangunnor)


• David Evans, Llanelli, Liberal

Morgan Davies died in February 1892, shortly before the end of his term as alderman.^[7]

By-elections

In contrast to the position in other counties only one by-election was caused by the election of aldermen. This was in St Ishmaels where the Liberal candidate captured the seat.

St Ishmaels by-election

Following the election of John Lewis Philipps as an alderman, a Liberal candidate captured the seat after a contest that took place in heavy snow.^[8]

By-elections, 1889-1892

Llanarthney by-election, 1889

Thomas Davies, Bremenda, the member for Llanarthney, died in August 1889 as a result of injuries sustained falling off his horse.^[9] Rev R.G. Lawrence of Middleton Hall, an unsuccessful candidate at the election held earlier in the year was returned unopposed.^[10]

Pembrey by-election, 1890

A by-election arose in the Pembrey ward following the appointment of William Howell as returning officer for the county.^[11]

Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division) by-election, 1890

D. Rixon Morgan, the sitting member, resigned late in 1890. Professor D.E. Jones of the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, was chosen as his replacement as Liberal candidate.^[12]

References

Bibliography

• 
  Morgan, Kenneth O. (1967). "Cardiganshire Politics: The Liberal Ascendancy 1885-1923". Ceredigion. 5 (4): 311–346.
  


• 
  Palmer, Caroline (2004). "Matthew Lewis Vaughan Davies - ambitious cad or assiduous politician?". Ceredigion. 14 (4): 73–104.