John Jones Jenkins, 1st Baron Glantawe facts for kids
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John Jones Jenkins, 1st Baron Glantawe (born May 10, 1835 – died July 27, 1915) was a very successful Welsh businessman and politician. He started working at a tin-plate factory when he was just fifteen years old. By the end of his life, he had become one of the richest people in the area of Glamorgan, Wales.
Contents
Early Life and Business Success
John Jones Jenkins was born in Morriston, a town in Glamorgan, Wales. His parents were Jenkin and Sarah Jenkins.
When he was older, John Jenkins helped start the Beaufort Tinplate Works in Morriston in 1859. Tinplate is a thin sheet of steel or iron coated with tin, used for making cans and other items. He was the main manager and a partner there for ten years. This showed he was very good at business.
A Career in Politics
John Jenkins was also very active in public life. He served as a Justice of the Peace for Swansea and Carmarthenshire. A Justice of the Peace is a local official who helps keep the peace and deals with minor legal cases.
He was also elected as the Mayor of Swansea three times: in 1869, 1879, and 1880. Being mayor is a big responsibility, showing he was respected in his community.
Becoming a Knight and Member of Parliament
In 1882, John Jenkins was given the title of Knight by the Queen. This meant he could be called "Sir John Jenkins."
He tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for Carmarthen in 1880 but didn't win that time. An MP is someone elected to represent their area in the country's parliament, helping to make laws. However, he was elected as an MP for Carmarthen in a special election in 1882.
He held his seat in Parliament until 1886. At that time, he joined a new political group called the Liberal Unionist party. This was because he disagreed with the idea of "Home Rule" for Ireland, which meant Ireland would have more control over its own government. He lost his seat in the next election.
In 1889, he became the High Sheriff of Glamorgan. This was another important local role, responsible for law and order in the county. He returned to Parliament in 1895, again representing Carmarthen, and stayed an MP until 1900.
Becoming a Baron
In 1906, John Jenkins was given a very special title: Baron Glantawe. This meant he became a "peer" and could sit in the House of Lords, which is the upper house of the UK Parliament. He was known as Lord Glantawe after this.
Family Life
Lord Glantawe was married twice. His first wife was Margaret Rees, whom he married in 1854. She passed away after nine years. He then married Catherine Prudence Daniel in 1864.
He had two daughters with his second wife: Olga Violet and Alina Kate Elaine. Alina later married Lord Bledisloe. Lord Glantawe did not have any sons.
Lord Glantawe passed away at the age of 80 in Swansea. He was buried in Oystermouth Cemetery. Because he had no sons, his title of Baron Glantawe ended when he died.
