David Randell (1854 – 5 June 1912), was a Welsh solicitor and a radical
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. He was Member of Parliament for Gower from 1888 to 1900.
Background
Randell was born the second son of John Randell of
Llanelly
Llanelly () is a village, Community (Wales), community, and parish in the county of Monmouthshire, South East Wales. It formerly existed in the historic county of Brecknockshire. The population of the community and ward at the 2011 United Kin ...
and Mary Jones. In 1880 he married Sarah George and they had two children.
Career
Randell qualified as a solicitor in 1878. He specialised in trade union litigation, protecting coal miners and tinplate workers on safety issues.
The Gower by-election, 1888
In 1888 a vacancy arose in the
Gower
The Gower Peninsula (), or simply Gower (), is a peninsula in the south-west of Wales. It is the most westerly part of the historic county of Glamorgan, and is now within the City and County of Swansea. It projects towards the Bristol Channel ...
division of
Glamorganshire
Glamorgan (), or sometimes Glamorganshire ( or ), was one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It is located in the south of Wales. Originally an early medieval petty kingdom of varying bo ...
following the death of Frank Ash Yeo, the member since the constituency was formed three years earlier. The Liberal Association rapidly chose Sir Horace Davey to contest the seat.
However, on the same day local trade unionists met at Morriston and invited Randell to contest the seat.
The
1888 Gower by-election was thus an important landmark in Welsh political history.
Later political career
Gower was a Liberal seat and he managed to hold it at the by-election and at the general elections that followed in 1892 and 1895. He was a radical Liberal who supported Welsh disestablishment from the Church of England, Welsh self-government, votes for women and trade union rights. In 1900 he stood down from parliament for health reasons and did not run again.
[British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Randell, David
1854 births
1912 deaths
Liberal Party (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies
UK MPs 1886–1892
UK MPs 1892–1895
UK MPs 1895–1900