THOMAS, JAMES PURDON LEWES (1903 - 1960), VISCOUNT CILCENNIN, M.P.

Name: James Purdon Lewes Thomas
Date of birth: 1903
Date of death: 1960
Parent: Anne Louisa Thomas (née Purdon)
Parent: John Lewes Thomas
Gender: Male
Occupation: M.P.
Area of activity: Politics, Government and Political Movements
Author: Evan David Jones

Born 13 October 1903, the son of J. Lewes Thomas, Cae-glas, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, and his wife Anne Louisa (née Purdon). He was educated at Rugby School and Oriel College, Oxford. He was a candidate (C) for the Llanelli division in the general election 1929, but received little support; he was elected M.P. for the Hereford division in 1931 and kept his seat until 1955. He was parliamentary private secretary in a number of ministries, 1930-40, and was Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, 1940-43; Financial Secretary to the Admiralty 1943-45; and First Lord of the Admiralty, 1951-56. He was vice-chairman of the Conservative and Unionist Party, 1945-51, and chairman of the Governing Body of Rugby School, 1958. He was elevated Viscount Cilcennin in 1955 and knighted (K.St.J.) in 1958. His book Admiralty House, Whitehall was published three months after his death on 13 July 1960 when his title lapsed.

Author

Published date: 2001

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

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.

Find out more on our sponsorship page.