John Hinds (politician)

Early life

Hinds was born at Cwnin Farm near Carmarthen. He was the son of William Hinds and Mary née Jones. He was apprenticed as a draper to his uncle who had a business in Carmarthen Town. In 1887 he moved to Blackheath in the south eastern suburbs of London where he founded the highly successful drapery firm of Hinds and Company. At various times he held the offices of chairman of the Drapers’ Fire Insurance Corporation and president of the Drapers’ Chamber of Trade.

Election to Parliament: the West Carmarthenshire election, 1910

Hinds was an active member of the Liberal Party, at one time holding the presidency of the Blackheath Liberal Association. He began to search for a parliamentary seat in Wales and early in 1910 came close to being selected as Liberal candidate for Merthyr Tydfil. Shortly afterwards he was briefly mentioned as a possible candidate for East Glamorgan.

Later that year, John Lloyd Morgan, the Liberal MP for West Carmarthenshire was made a judge and stood down as candidate for the second General Election of 1910. Hinds now sought the nomination for the constituency. Five other candidates contested the nomination, including Sir Owen Philipps, who was standing down as member for Pembroke Boroughs, and Sir Courtenay Mansel. It was initially suggested that the contest of the nomination would primarily be between Hinds and Philipps. Henry Jones-Davies, who was both a prominent member of Carmarthenshire County Council and brother-in-law of the late Liberal politician, Tom Ellis led at each stage of the voting at a selection conference held at Water Street Chapel, Carmarthen. However, at the final ballot, Hinds won by 188 votes against 186.

At the election that followed, Hinds was opposed by J.W. Jones Cremlyn, who had contested the previous election. It was initially suggested that the Rev Arthur Fuller Mills, chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council, would contest the seat as an independent but the rumour proved unfounded.

Once he has benn selected as candidate, Hinds was virtually assured of election to Parliament, even though there were initial concerns that the Liberals would take the contest for granted. Although a vigorous campaign was conducted by his Conservative opponent, J.W Jones Kremlin, the Liberals held an enthusiastic campaign. One of the most memorable meetings was held at Bethania Chapel in the rural village of Talog. Upon the approach of Hinds's motor car the historic horn apparently used at the time of the Rebecca Riots was sounded and a torchlight procession formed.

Political career

In 1917 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire, a post he held until his death.

At the 1918 general election he was elected member of parliament for the new constituency of Carmarthen as a Coalition Liberal.

By the time of the 1922 general election a formal split had occurred in the Liberal Party, and Hinds stood as a National Liberal under the leadership of David Lloyd-George. The Conservatives sensed their opportunity to secure a rare triumph in the constituency. However, Hinds held on to win in a four-cornered contest.

In the following year he changed his allegiance, however, to the other Liberal faction led by H. H. Asquith. He retired at the next election in 1923. In his final year in parliament he was chairman of Welsh Liberal Parliamentary party.

Following his retirement from parliament he continued to be active in local politics, and was Mayor of Carmarthen in 1925-1926. In 1927 he gave a parcel of land to the town of Carmarthen as a recreation ground, now known as Parc Hinds. He was also active in many voluntary and charitable organisations including the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, National Eisteddfod Association, the London Welsh Literary Union and the London Welsh Charitable Aid Society. A Baptist by religion, he held the post of president of the Baptist Union of Wales and was a prominent freemason.

He married Lizzie Powell in 1893, and the couple had one daughter. He died in a London nursing home following an operation in 1928, three days before his 66th birthday. He was buried in Carmarthen at a service which only men were allowed to attend.