Sir Hugh Owen Owen, 2nd Baronet

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Hugh Owen Owen
KBE
Member of Parliament
for Pembroke
In office
22 February 1861 – 18 November 1868
Preceded byJohn Owen
Succeeded byThomas Meyrick
In office
13 June 1826 – 20 February 1838
Preceded byJohn Hensleigh Allen
Succeeded byJames Graham
Personal details
Born
Henry Owen Lord

25 December 1803
Died5 September 1891(1891-09-05) (aged 87)
NationalityBritish
Political partyLiberal
Other political
affiliations		Conservative/Tory
Spouse(s)
Henrietta Fraser Rodney
​
​
(m. 1845)​

Angelina Maria Cecilia Morgan
​
​
(m. 1825; died 1844)​
Children12, including
Parent(s)John Owen
Charlotte Philipps
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford
Eton College

Sir Hugh Owen Owen, 2nd Baronet (25 December 1803 – 5 September 1891),[1] known as Hugh Owen Lord until 1809, was a British Liberal Party, Conservative Party and Tory politician.

Family and early life[]

Born in 1803 as Hugh Owen Lord, Owen was the son of Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet and his first wife Charlotte, daughter of John Lewes Philipps. He was a descendant of the nobleman to the Owens of Orielton, Pembrokeshire, a family known for parliamentary and military service in Pembrokeshire. His surname was changed to Owen when his father inherited the estates of Hugh Owen's cousin , whom Owen was named after.[2]

Educated at Eton College in 1817, and graduating from Christ Church, Oxford in 1822, he first married Angelina Maria Cecilia, daughter of Sir Charles Morgan, 2nd Baronet in 1825, and they had five sons and three daughters, including: (1826–1909); John Owen (1828–1890); Arthur Owen (1829–1876); and, William Owen (1832–1889).[2][3]

After Angelina's death in 1844, he remarried in 1845 to Henrietta Fraser, daughter of Edward Rodney, and they had one son and three daughters, including Alice Henrietta Rodney Owen (died 1925); Ellen Rodney Owen; Edith Rodney Owen; and George Rodney Owen (1859–1886).[2][3]

Political career[]

Both Owen's father and cousin Hugh had been Tory MPs for Pembroke between 1809 and 1812, with the father also holding Pembrokeshire between 1812 and 1841. Owen also entered Parliament when he was first elected MP for Pembroke unopposed at the 1826 general election as a Tory, after which he admitted his youth and experience, and declared support for religious toleration but not Catholic relief.[2]

Although he was re-elected numerous times, including as a Conservative in 1832, Owen was often criticised for an "inattention for his parliamentary duties". In Parliament, he voted against the abolition of the Welsh courts, arguing "our sessions should be held in future where they are at present held and, when the bill received Royal Assent, he signed a memorial expressing regret for it.[2]

Owen was also against the parliamentary reform scheme put forward by Lord Blandford, divided against emancipation and the Galway franchise bill, and presented petitions for the abolition of slavery. In 1831, he divided against the Grey ministry's reform bill and for Isaac Gascoyne's wrecking amendment, and later divided against a reintroduced version of the former in 1831, and then again upon its second and third readings. He later resigned in 1838 when his father obliged him to vacate the seat for Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet.[2]

1861 Pembrokeshire by-election[]

After 23 years of absence from Parliament, in January 1861, he attempted to be elected as a Liberal for Pembrokeshire at a by-election resulting from the elevation of the sitting member, Lord Emlyn, to the peerage following the death of his father. Owen's candidacy was from the outset impacted upon by his financial difficulties, even though it was confidently asserted that his ebts would be honoured.[4]

Nominating him at Haverfordwest, Thomas Davies Lloyd of Bronwydd referred to the tradition of the house of Orielton and trusted that their fortunes would be revived.[5] Owen was however, unsuccessful.

Member for Pembroke Boroughs[]

Nevertheless, the next month, he was elected as a Liberal in his former constituency, Pembroke, succeeding his father who had recently died, at a .

There was mounting opposition to Owen during the 1860s, and in 1864 there were suggestions that he be replaced by Richard Potter, chairman of the Great Western Railway.[6] However, he held the seat until he was defeated in 1868.[7][2]

Baronetcy[]

Owen succeeded his father as Baronet of Orielton, Pembrokeshire on 6 February 1861 and, upon his own death in 1891, the title was passed to his son .[2][8][3]

Other activities[]

In 1830, Owen was made Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the Pembrokeshire militia, and later, between 1872 and 1875, was a Colonel of the Pembrokeshire artillery militia. From 1872 to his death, he was also aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.[2] He was also at some point Deputy Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire.[3]

Owen died at Barnes in September 1891 aged 87. The passing years had erased some of the bitterness of political contests and the Pembrokeshire Herald, which was so hostile to him in the 1860s, described him as "accomplished, courteous and genial" and "in all respects a gentleman."[9]

References[]

  1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 1)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Escott, Margaret. "Owen, Hugh Owen (1803–1891), of Williamston and Llanstinan, Pemb". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sir Hugh Owen, 2nd Bt". The Peerage. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  4. ^ "To the Editor of the Welshman (letter by KH)". Welshman. 23 November 1860. p. 6. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Pembrokeshire Election. Nomination of candidates". Pembrokeshire Herald. 18 January 1861. p. 2. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Editorial [untitled]". Welshman. 9 September 1864. p. 5. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  7. ^ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3. {{cite book}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
  8. ^ Leigh Rayment's list of baronets – Baronetcies beginning with "O"
  9. ^ "Death of Sir Hugh Owen Bart". Pembrokeshire Herald. 18 September 1891. p. 2. Retrieved 11 April 2020.

External links[]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Pembroke
–1868 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Pembroke
1826– 		Succeeded by
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Baronet
(of Orielton, Pembrokeshire)
1861–1891 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""