Thomas Johnes (the elder) facts for kids

Thomas Johnes (who passed away around 1734) was a Welsh politician. He was a member of the Whig Party, which was one of the main political groups in Britain at the time. Johnes served in the House of Commons, which is a part of the British Parliament where laws are made. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1713 to 1715.

Thomas Johnes came from important families in Wales. His father was also named Thomas Johnes, and his mother was Anne Lloyd. He was the only son in his family to live to adulthood. Around 1698, he inherited his father's lands and properties. He was married twice. His first wife was Jane Herbert, and his second wife was Blanche Van.

Early Life and Family

Thomas Johnes was born into a well-known family in Wales. His family owned estates in places like Llanfair Clydogau in Cardiganshire and Dolau Cothi in Carmarthenshire. These areas are in the beautiful countryside of Wales. When his father passed away around 1698, Thomas inherited the family's lands and wealth. This meant he became an important person in his local community.

He married Jane Herbert first, who was from another notable family in Cardiganshire. Later, he married Blanche Van. These marriages connected him to other important families in Wales and Monmouthshire.

Public Service and Politics

Thomas Johnes was involved in public service and politics for many years.

High Sheriff Role

From 1704 to 1705, Thomas Johnes served as the High Sheriff of Cardiganshire. A High Sheriff was a very important local official. They were responsible for keeping law and order in their county. This role showed that Johnes was a respected and trusted leader in his area.

Running for Parliament

Thomas Johnes was a member of the Whig Party. The Whigs were a political group that believed in certain ideas about how the country should be run. They often supported the power of Parliament and limited the power of the king.

Johnes first tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardiganshire in the 1708 general election. However, he did not win that election. He even tried to challenge the results twice, but he was unsuccessful.

Serving as an MP

Despite his earlier losses, Thomas Johnes ran for Parliament again in the 1713 general election. This time, he was successful and became the MP for Cardiganshire. As an MP, he represented the people of his county in the House of Commons. This is where important decisions about the country's laws and future were made.

However, his time in Parliament was short. In the next general election in 1715, he lost his seat and was no longer an MP.

Later Life and Legacy

Thomas Johnes passed away around 1734. He did not have any children with either of his wives. Before he died, he chose a relative, Thomas Johnes of Pen-y-bont, to inherit his estates and property. This relative was a distant cousin.