William Jones (Arfon MP)

William Jones was a British Liberal Party politician.

Early history

Jones was born in Penmynydd in 1860, the son of William, a peasant farmer and Jane. The Dictionary of Welsh Biography lists his parents as Richard and Alice. His father died when he was a child, and the family subsequently moved into Llangefni. He was educated first at the British school at Llangefni, later becoming the pupil-teacher there. He continued his education at Bangor Normal College and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth He briefly served as headmaster of the Goginan School north of Cardigan, before working for the London School Board from 1879-88.
In 1887 he was excommunicated from the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church at Holloway for "advocating too advanced opinions as a Sunday school teacher." From 1888-94 he worked as a private tutor at Oxford. While there, he befriended Sir John Rhys.

After developing an interest in politics while in London he sought candidacy in Anglesey, as a Liberal but was not chosen. Instead, Jones entered the House of Commons as Liberal MP for Arfon in the 1895 general election. He was re-elected in 1900 and in 1906. In parliament he supported the 1908 Women's Enfranchisement Bill. He was re-elected in January and December 1910. In 1911 he was appointed to the Liberal administration of H. H. Asquith as a government whip. He died in office in May 1915.