JENKINS, Sir WILLIAM ALBERT (1878 - 1968), shipbroker and politician

Born in Swansea 9 September 1878, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Ann Jenkins. He married, 1906, Beatrice (died 1967), daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Tyler, Pirbright, Surrey. He was prominent in the Welsh coal industry as principal of William A. Jenkins and Company, Wholesale Coal and Coke Factors, and also as a shipbroker. He won recognition in many European countries for his commercial activities and his contributions to national and international charities and institutions. His political interests were not developed until after World War I when he was elected National Liberal Member of Parliament for Brecon and Radnor in 1922. He lost the seat in the 1924 General Election and afterwards concentrated his political attention on local government. In 1927 he was elected to the Swansea Borough Council on which he served until 1954, being mayor of Swansea 1947-49. He became president and custodian trustee of the South Wales Savings Bank and in 1949 was elected president of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. He was president of the Swansea and Central Wales Deaf and Dumb Mission, of the Deaf and Dumb Regional Association for Wales and of the Swansea Business Club. He was knighted in 1938 and his close association with the Order of St. John was recognised by his appointment to the presidency of the Swansea Order of St. John Council, F.I.C.S., and his appointment as Knight of St. John. He was made Knight Class 1 Order of Dannebrog (Denmark) in 1933; Gold Cross Royal Order George I (Greece) in 1938. France awarded him the Order of Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1949. He died 23 October 1968.

Author

• David Glanville Rosser, (1915 - 2001)

Sources

• Who was who?

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: William Albert Jenkins

Additional Links

• VIAF: 168298223
• Wikidata: Q8004223

Published date: 2001

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/