John Josiah Guest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Josiah Guest
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| Member of Parliament for Merthyr Tydfil | |
| In office 1832–1852 |
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| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Henry Bruce |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Josiah John Guest
2 February 1785 Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales |
| Died | 26 November 1852 (aged 67) |
| Resting place | St John's Church, Dowlais |
| Spouses | Maria Rankin Lady Charlotte Elizabeth Bertie |
| Children | Constance Rhiannon Guest Blanche Guest Katharine Gwladys Guest Mary Enid Evelyn Guest Charlotte Maria Guest Ivor Bertie Guest Thomas Merthyr Guest Montague Guest Augustus Frederick Guest Arthur Edward Guest |
| Parents |
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| Occupation | Businessman |
Sir Josiah John Guest (born February 2, 1785 – died November 26, 1852) was an important Welsh engineer, businessman, and politician. He was known for his work in the iron industry and for representing his community in the British Parliament.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Josiah John Guest was born on February 2, 1785, in Dowlais, a town in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. His father, Thomas Guest, was a partner in the Dowlais Iron Company. His mother was Jemima Revel Phillips. Young Josiah went to school at Bridgnorth Grammar School and Monmouth School.
A Career in Iron and Politics
After finishing school, Josiah learned the ironmaking business from his father's company manager, John Evans. Josiah was very skilled and could work with steel or cut coal just as well as any of the experienced workers.
Leading the Dowlais Iron Company
When his father passed away in 1807, Josiah inherited his share of the company. He worked hard to grow the business and became the sole owner of the Dowlais Iron Company by 1815. By the time he died in 1852, his company had become the largest iron producer in the entire world. This shows how much he helped the iron industry grow in Wales.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
Josiah John Guest also had a career in politics. In 1825, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Honiton in Devon. An MP is a person elected to represent a specific area in the country's government. He held this position until 1831.
In 1832, he became the very first MP for his hometown, Merthyr Tydfil. This was a big achievement for him and his community. In 1837, he started a campaign to make Merthyr Tydfil an official town.
Becoming a Baronet
In 1838, Josiah Guest was given the special title of a baronet. This means he became "Sir Josiah John Guest, 1st Baronet." A baronet is a hereditary title, which means it can be passed down in the family. After he passed away in 1852, his oldest son took over the title.
Helping the Community
Josiah Guest was also known for his generosity and public works. He helped build a school in Dowlais, which was designed by the famous architect Sir Charles Barry. He was also a member of important groups like the Royal Society and the Institution of Civil Engineers. He was even the first chairman of the Taff Vale Railway, which was a railway line important for transporting goods.
Family Life
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Josiah Guest married Maria Rankin on March 11, 1817. Sadly, Maria passed away just nine months later in January 1818.
Later, on July 29, 1833, he married Lady Charlotte Elizabeth Bertie. She was the daughter of the 9th Earl of Lindsey. Josiah and Lady Charlotte had a large family with five sons and five daughters. Some of their children included:
- Charlotte Maria Guest (1834–1902)
- Ivor Bertie Guest (1835–1914)
- Katharine Gwladys Guest (1837–1926)
- Thomas Merthyr Guest (1838–1904)
- Montague John Guest (1839–1909)
- Augustus Frederick Guest (1840–1862)
- Arthur Edward Guest (1841–1898)
- Mary Enid Evelyn Guest (1843–1912)
- Constance Rhiannon Guest (1844–1916)
- Blanche Vere Guest (1847–1919)
Josiah Guest passed away in 1852. He was buried in an iron coffin under a red granite slab in St John's Church in Dowlais. This church had been built for him in 1827.
After his death, his wife, Lady Charlotte, married Charles Schreiber in 1855. Charles Schreiber was a scholar and a politician who was also known for collecting fine art.
Notable Descendants
The Guest family continued to be important in British society. Among Josiah's many grandchildren were several notable people, including:
- Edward Ponsonby, who became the 8th Earl of Bessborough.
- Granville and Montague Eliot, who became the 7th and 8th Earls of St Germans.
- Frances Guest, known as Lady Chelmsford, whose husband became the Viceroy of India.
- Ivor Churchill Guest, who became the 1st Viscount Wimborne.
- Christian Henry Charles Guest, Frederick "Freddie" Edward Guest, and Oscar Montague Guest, who all became Members of Parliament.
