David Matthews (1868 – 26 February 1960) was a

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

politician in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

Parliamentary politics

Matthews was elected as a

Coalition Liberal The Coalition Coupon was a letter sent to parliamentary candidates at the 1918 United Kingdom general election, endorsing them as official representatives of the Coalition Government. The 1918 election took place soon after British victory in the ...

Member of Parliament (MP) for

Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency) Swansea East () was a borough constituency in Wales in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was represented by members of the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party from 1922 until 2 ...

at a by-election in 1919 following the death of the Liberal MP Thomas Jeremiah Williams. He stepped down from

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

at the 1922 general election, and did not stand again.

Welsh MP

Matthews was a strong supporter of the premiership of

David Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor (17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922. A Liberal Party (United Kingdom), Liberal Party politician from Wales, he was known for leadi ...

and regarded himself as something of a Welsh nationalist. In 1920 he was one of a group of Welsh MPs who called on the prime minister to create the post of

Secretary of State for Wales The secretary of state for Wales (), also referred to as the Welsh secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Wales Office. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Ki ...

but Lloyd George apparently urged them to fight for greater devolution instead. However, in February 1921 Matthews attempted to introduce a Bill to institute the post of Welsh Secretary but without success.

Swansea politician

At the time of his election to Parliament, Matthews was a leading member of the civic community in Swansea. He was a member of Swansea Council and was a Justice of the Peace, having twice been Chief Magistrate. He was a prominent nonconformist in the area and popular with chapel-goers. In 1924 the

Freedom Freedom is the power or right to speak, act, and change as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Freedom is often associated with liberty and autonomy in the sense of "giving oneself one's own laws". In one definition, something is "free" i ...

of Swansea was bestowed on him, by which time he was an

Alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law with similar officials existing in the Netherlands (wethouder) and Belgium (schepen). The term may be titular, denotin ...

of Swansea Council.

Business

In business, Matthews was a merchant, a director of the South Wales Fuel Company Ltd. and owner of the Park Tinplate Company Ltd.The Times, 26 February 1920 p18

References

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, David Liberal Party (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Swansea constituencies UK MPs 1918–1922 1868 births 1960 deaths