Howel Gwyn

Howel Gwyn (24 June 1806 – 25 January 1888) of Dyffryn, Neath, was a British Conservative politician, who represented Penryn and Falmouth (1847–57) and Brecon (1866–68).

Howel Gwyn MP

Early life

Gwyn was the son of William Gwyn and Mary Anne Roberts. His mother was the daughter of John Roberts of Barnstaple, Devon. He was educated privately at Neath and at Swansea Grammar School.

Public life

Statue of Gwyn, Victoria Gardens, Neath,1889, by Mario Raggi

Gwyn participated in the public life of several Welsh counties. He was High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1837, of Carmarthenshire in 1838 and of Breconshire in 1844.

Gwyn successfully contested Penryn and Falmouth at the 1847 General Election and continued to represent the borough until 1857. He represented Brecon from 1866 until 1869 when he was unseated by petition. Having been returned for Brecon in 1868 it was generally accepted that his supporters had been caught engaged in bribery. The following year, a petition was brought forward to unseat him due to allegations of bribery and illegal activities. Gwyn was largely exonerated personally but the charges were upheld and his election annulled in April 1869.

In 1874 he unsuccessfully contested the Brecknock constituency against W Fuller Maitland.

Later life and death

Gwyn played a prominent role in the public life of the Borough of Neath and contributed land towards the building of a hall, known as the Gwyn Hall.

He died at his home in 1888. The radical Welsh language newspaper, Tarian y Gweithiwr, recalled him as an old-fashioned Conservative who was a staunch defender of the Church of England.