Iolo Aneurin Williams

Captain Iolo Aneurin Williams (18 June 1890 – 18 January 1962), was a British writer, journalist and Liberal Party politician. His son was the composer Edward Williams.

Background

Williams was born in Middlesbrough, the son of Aneurin Williams, who was a Liberal member of parliament. He was the brother of Ursula Williams who was also a Liberal politician. He was educated at Rugby School and King's College, Cambridge. In 1920 he married Francion Elinor Dixon. They had one son and two daughters.

Folk Song Collecting

Williams began collecting folk songs in the area around his home in Hindhead in 1912. He would cycle around the countryside and make contact with potential sources, sometimes with the assistance of the local Vicar. Being unable to write down the tunes he collected only the words. When he had sufficient sets of words he would return with either Clive Carey or Frederick Keel who would note the tunes. His collecting ceased with the outbreak of the 1st World War. After war he succeded Frederick Keel as Honorary Secretary of the Folk Song Society.

Professional career

Williams was Bibliographical Correspondent of the London Mercury from 1920–1939. He made contributions to the Dictionary of National Biography and the Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature. He was a published poet and writer.

Publications

• Poems, 1915
• New Poems, 1919
• Byways Round Helicon, 1922
• Shorter Poems of the 18th Century, 1923
• Seven 18th Century Bibliographies, 1924
• Editor: plays of Sheridan, 1926
• Elements of Book-Collecting, 1927
• Poetry To-day, 1927
• Where the Bee Sucks, 1929 (illustrated by Katharine Cameron)
• The Firm of Cadbury, 1931
• Points in 18th Century Verse, 1934
• English Folk Song and Dance, 1935
• Flowers of Marsh and Stream (King Penguin), 1946
• Early English Water-Colours, 1952

Political career

Williams was Liberal candidate for the Chelsea division of London at the 1924 General Election. Chelsea was a safe Unionist seat, so he was not expected to win. 1924 was not a good election for the Liberals and he came in third place in the race. Despite this, he contested Chelsea again at the 1929 General Election, a better election for the Liberals. He increased the Liberal share of the vote, but still finished third. He did not stand for parliament again.

Electoral record

General Election 1924: Chelsea

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Rt Hon. Sir Samuel Hoare	13,816	65.68	+8.68
	Labour	Dora Russell	5,661	26.01	−1.49
	Liberal	Iolo Aneurin Williams	1,557	7.40	−8.11
Majority			8,155	38.77	+9.27
Turnout			29,582	71.10	+7.27
	Unionist hold		Swing	+5.09

General Election 1929: Chelsea

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Rt Hon. Sir Samuel John Gurney Hoare	15,480	58.4	−7.2
	Labour	Alfred George Prichard	6,645	25.1	−0.9
	Liberal	Iolo Aneurin Williams	4,360	16.5	+9.1
Majority			8,835	33.4	−5.4
Turnout			41,945	63.1	−8.0
	Unionist hold		Swing	-4.1

Family tree

Iolo Morganwg (Edward Williams) 1747–1826

Taliesin ab Iolo (Taliesin Williams) 1787–1847

Edward Williams 1826–1886

Aneurin Williams 1859–1924

Penry Williams 1866–1945

Iolo Aneurin Williams 1890–1962

Edward Williams 1921–2013

See also

• Katharine Cameron
• Arthur St John Adcock