Carmarthenshire County Council election, 1889

Overview of the result

1889 was one of those landmark years in the history of Welsh Liberalism, a coming of age symbolized by the triumph across Wales of Liberal candidates in the inaugural county council elections.

Candidates and unopposed returns

Most of the seats were contested by Liberal and Conservative candidates. The number of unopposed returns was small.

Contested elections

There were a large number of contested elections and the majorities were small in most instances.

Summary of results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. This was the inaugural county election and therefore no comparison can be made with the previous elections. In some cases there is an ambiguity in the sources over the party affiliations and this is explained below where relevant.

This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 48 councillors were elected.

St Ishmael

J. Lewis Philipps of Bolahaul, near Carmarthen, had been a prominent figure in county government for many years and was chairman of the Carmarthen Board of Guardians from 1861 until 1884.

Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the election of the initial sixteen aldermen, half of the aldermanic bench would be elected every three years following the triennial council election. After the initial elections, there were seventeen aldermanic vacancies and the following Alderman were appointed by the newly elected council (with the number of votes cast recorded in each case). A second vote was held to determine which aldermen should retire in three years.

Elected for six years

Elected for three years

As in Cardiganshire the Liberals agreed that the Conservatives be allocated three aldermanic seats only. Only John Lewis Philipps was an elected member of the Council.

Initially, Lewis Morris had been elected an alderman but he declined on the basis that he had no sufficient time at his disposal. He was then replaced by W.R. Edwards at the second meeting of the Council.

Aldermanic Vacanies, 1889-1892

David Bowen died a few weeks after his election as alderman, The council resolved to replace him with another representative from the Llandeilo area to serve for the remainder of the three-year term.

Two vacancies arose in early 1891 following the resignation of W de G Warren and the death of J. Lewis Philipps. The vacancies were filled as followed.

Morgan Davies died in February 1892, shortly before the end of his term as alderman.

By-elections

In contrast to the position in other counties only one by-election was caused by the election of aldermen. This was in St Ishmaels where the Liberal candidate captured the seat.

St Ishmaels by-election

Following the election of John Lewis Philipps as an alderman, a Liberal candidate captured the seat after a contest that took place in heavy snow.

Llanarthney by-election, 1889

Thomas Davies, Bremenda, the member for Llanarthney, died in August 1889 as a result of injuries sustained falling off his horse. Rev R.G. Lawrence of Middleton Hall, an unsuccessful candidate at the election held earlier in the year was returned unopposed.

Pembrey by-election, 1890

A by-election arose in the Pembrey ward following the appointment of William Howell as returning officer for the county.

Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division) by-election, 1890

D. Rixon Morgan, the sitting member, resigned late in 1890. Professor D.E. Jones of the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, was chosen as his replacement as Liberal candidate.