TREFGARNE, GEORGE MORGAN, 1st BARON TREFGARNE of Cleddau (formerly GARRO-JONES, GEORGE MORGAN; 1894 - 1960), barrister-at-law and politician

Born 14 September 1894 at Zion Hill House, Trefgarn, Pembrokeshire, son of David Garro-Jones, Congl. minister, and Sarah (née Griffiths). He was educated at Caterham School and served in the Denbighshire Yeomanry, 1913-14, and in France with the 10th South Wales Borderers and Royal Flying Corps., 1915-17, becoming an honorary captain in the Royal Air Force. In 1918 he went to America as advisory officer to the U.S. Air Service, returning as private secretary to Sir Hamar Greenwood (1919-21). A versatile and vigorous man, he was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1923 and was at the same time London editor of the Daily Despatch, resigning after two years when he became M.P. (L.) for South Hackney, 1924-29. In 1928 he went to Nigeria as a member of the Empire Parliamentary Delegation to inquire into trade conditions there. Late in 1929 he joined the Labour party (but rejoined the Liberals in 1958) and was the first Welshman to represent a Scottish constituency when he was elected M.P. (Lab.) for Aberdeen, 1935-45. Meanwhile he commenced practice on the South Wales Circuit in 1939. For three years he was parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Production, 1942-45, and concurrently deputy chairman of the Radio Board, chairman of the Television Advisory Committee, 1946-49, and chairman of the Colonial Development Corporation from its inception in 1947, retiring in 1950 after the failure of the Gambia Egg Scheme. He was created a peer in 1947. He published Jurisdiction of the railway rates tribunal (1922), and his war experiences in Ventures and visions (1935). He married, 9 May 1940, Elizabeth Churchill, and had three sons and one daughter. He died 27 September 1960.

Author

• Dr Mary Auronwy James

Sources

• Who was who?
• Burke's … Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage, (1970)
• The Biographical Index of W. W. Price, Aberdâr

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: George Trefgarne, 1st Baron Trefgarne

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q5545309

Published date: 2001

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