1892 Merionethshire County Council election

The second election to the Merionethshire County Council was held in March 1892.^[1] They were preceded by the 1889 election and followed by the 1895 election.

The Liberals held their large majority with most seats being uncontested.^[2]

At the inaugural election the majority of seats had been contested, and in many cases the majorities were very small. By 1892, however, most wards were uncontested.

There were a large number of contested elections and the majorities were small in most instances. In most cases there were contests between Liberal and Conservative candidates.

The first meeting of the council was held in Dolgellau.

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. One councillor was described as an Independent candidate but was also grouped in some reports with the Conservatives.

This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 42 councillors were elected.

This table summarises the position following the election of aldermen. Eight were elected from among the elected members and eight from outside the council. This brought the total number of councillors and aldermen to 56.

This table summarises the position following the by-elections for the three seats vacated following the election of aldermen. Technically these were new seats, taking the total number of councillors to 56. However, the Liberals defended three seats.

Enoch Lewis, Balkan Hill, standing as an Independent defeated William Jones, Sea View Terrace.^[1] The previous member sat as a Conservative.

William Davies, farmer, of Caerblaidd, Ffestiniog and John Hughes, farmer, of Hafodfawrisaf, Maentwrog, were elected at the expense of George Henry Ellis, solicitor, of Penymount, Ffestiniog and Edward Henry Jonathan, draper, of Paris House, Four Crosses.^[3]

Samuel Pope, having been caught in the controversy over use of the Welsh language in 1889, did not seek re-election. John Davies, Glanymorfa, was elected in his place, defeating W. Ansell, Corsygedol.^[1]

The sitting member, Richard Thomas Jones, surgeon, of Penygarth Villa, Harlech defeated F.R. Lloyd of Bronygraig by a much larger margin than his success in 1889.^[1]

Richard John Price of Rhiwlas defeated William Thomas Rowlands, farmer, of Tanycoed, Llanfor (L).^[3]

John Jones, gentleman, of Ynysfor, Llanfrothen defeated William Hughes, farmer, of Cwmcaeth, Nantmor, Beddgelert.^[3]

John Parry Jones of the District Bank, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Robert Owen Jones, solicitor, of High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog were elected at the expense of Morris Jones, flour dealer, of Blaenbowydd House, Blaenau Ffestiniog.^[3]

William Edward Oakeley of Plas Tanybwlch was elected unopposed.

J. B. Jones, miller, of Brynyfelin and John Rowe, quarry manager, of Glasfryn View, Penrhyn, were elected at the expense of Edmund Morgan Roberts, farmer, of Cefntrefor- isaf, Talsarnau and John Morgan, grocer, of Canton House, High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog.^[3]

Ellis Hughes, a quarryman, was returned unopposed.^[2]

John Humphreys, physician and surgeon, of Fronwynion-street, Trawsfynydd and Robert Hugh Pughe, farmer, of Brynllefrith, Trawsfynydd, were elected at the expense of David Tegid Jones, farmer, of Y Goppa and William Evans, draper, of Meirion House, Trawsfynydd.^[3]

In addition to the 42 councillors the council consisted of 14 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 sixteen Aldermanic vacancies and the following Alderman were appointed by the newly elected council:^[4]

Only three of those elected were members of the council.^[5]

Elected for six years

• S. Pope, Liberal, (elected councillor at )
• A. O. Williams, Liberal
• J. Cadwaltwdr, Liberal
• Edward Griffith, Liberal (defeated candidate at Llanfachreth)
• Richard Jones, Plasyracre, Liberal (elected councillor at Bala)
• Wm. Williams, Liberal
• J. Hughes Jones, Liberal

Elected for three years

• C. H. Wynn, Conservative
• John Evans, Liberal
• E. H. Jonathan, Liberal
• Andreas Roberts. Liberal
• Edward Peters, Liberal (elected councillor at Llanycil)
• Rev G. Ceidiog Roberts, Liberal (defeated candidate at Maentwrog)
• William Davies, Pant, Liberal

Richard Jones died suddenly in February 1889, creating an immediate vacancy.^[6]

Therefore, the following appointment was made for the remaining six years in May 1892.

Three by-elections were caused by the election of aldermen.

Edward Watkin, land agent, Rhiwlas, standing as an Independent, defeated the Liberal candidate by fifteen votes. Richard Jones, who had been elected alderman, died three days later.^[6]

• Morgan, Kenneth O. (1967). "Cardiganshire Politics: The Liberal Ascendancy 1885-1923". Ceredigion. 5 (4): 311–346.