Sir David Llewellyn, 1st Baronet
Sir David Llewellyn, 1st Baronet | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Aberdare, South Wales |
| Died | December 15, 1940 (aged 61) |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, industrial entrepreneur |
| Known for | Coal mining industry, Welsh coal exports |
Sir David Richard Llewellyn, 1st Baronet JP (9 March 1879 – 15 December 1940) was a prominent Welsh financier and industrial entrepreneur.
Early life
Born on 9 March 1879 in Aberdare, South Wales, Llewellyn was the son of Elizabeth and Rees Llewellyn (1851–1919), who served as a JP and High Sheriff of Breconshire. His education was completed at Llandovery College followed by studies at Cardiff University.
Career
Starting his ventures in 1905 with a modest colliery, Llewellyn capitalized on the use of electrically powered cutting machines to extract thin coal seams, which facilitated his expansion through multiple acquisitions within the south Wales coal mining region.
By 1930, he held directorship at GKN and was chairman of several companies including North's Navigation Collieries Ltd., Graigola Merthyr Company, and Welsh Associated Collieries Ltd. As a trusted ally of former UK Prime Minister Lloyd George, Llewellyn significantly contributed to boosting Welsh coal exports. Notably, in 1923 he negotiated a five-year agreement to deliver one million tons annually of Welsh anthracite to the United States.
He was granted the title of 1st Baronet Llewellyn, of Bwllfa, Aberdare, County of Glamorgan in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 31 January 1922. Additionally, he fulfilled duties as a Justice of the Peace for Glamorgan.
Personal life
On 19 April 1905, Llewellyn married Magdalene Anne Harries, daughter of Rev. Henry Harries from Porthcawl. The couple resided at Bwllfa in Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales, and had several children:
- Sir Rhys Llewellyn, 2nd Baronet (1910–1978), who served as High Sheriff of Glamorgan and died unmarried.
- Sir Henry Morton Llewellyn, 3rd Baronet (1911–1999), married Hon. Christine Saumarez in 1944.
- Margaret Elaine Llewellyn (1913–2002), wed Sir Donald Forsyth Anderson in 1935.
- Elizabeth Aileen Maud Llewellyn (1914–2011), married Lt.-Col. David Matthew Caradoc Prichard in 1946.
- Sir David Treharne Llewellyn (1916–1992), Member of Parliament for Cardiff North and Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department; married Joan Anne Williams in 1950.
- Marjorie Joyce Llewellyn (1917–1971), served as Warrant Officer in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during WWII; married Frank May Reid Byers in 1947.
- William Herbert Rhydian Llewellyn (1919–2008), Major and High Sheriff of Cardiganshire; married Lady Honor Morvyth Vaughan in 1943.
- Magdalene Clare Llewellyn (1922–1999), married Alexander Wyndham Hume Stewart-Moore in 1948.
Sir David passed away at his brother’s residence, Tynewydd, Hirwaun, Glamorganshire on 15 December 1940. His eldest son, Sir Rhys Llewellyn, succeeded him. Lady Llewellyn died on 1 February 1966.