On This Day

September 26, 1963

Death of Goronwy Owen, Liberal MP for Caernarvonshire 1923-45

Born in Aberystwyth in 1881, Owen worked as a teacher before serving on the Western Front in the First World War. Elected to the House of Commons in 1923, he briefly served as Liberal Chief Whip 1931-32 and as a whip in the National Government. In 1931 he joined Lloyd George (to whom he was related by marriage) and his son Gwilym and daughter Megan in the Lloyd George family group of Independent Liberal MPs, successfully defending his seat in 1931 and 1935. The family group re-took the Liberal whip after the 1935 election. Out of parliament after the 1945 election, he continued to play a part in local and political life in North Wales, serving on Caernavonshire County Council, chairing the Gwynedd Police Authority and serving as President of the North Wales Liberal Federation.