Constituency : Pembroke and Haverfordwest 1906-10, City of Chester 1916-22 ( Conservative )
Owen took Pembroke and Haverfordwest from the Tories.
Owen was the son of a baronet and church minister. He was the brother of the Pembrokeshire MP John Philipps. He was educated at Newton College, Devon and became an apprentice in a shipping firm. In 1888 John financed him setting up his own shipping company in 1888. It rapidly expanded through acquisition and dangerous financial practices including the hiding of losses..
Owen was knighted in 1909.
Owen stood down in December 1910 , hoping to stand for West Carmarthenshire instead but he came a poor third in the selection contest.
Owen then left the Liberal party and returned to the Commons as a Conservative at a by-election at Chester in 1916.
In 1916 Owen supported the introduction of Daylight Saving Time.
Owen was created Baron Klysant in 1923. The following year he became chairman of Harland and Wolff.
In 1928 Owen's company defaulted on part of a loan repayment to the Midland Bank and the government, a major client became concerned about the finances. An audit found £10m liabilities and the banks removed most of Owen's powers. In 1931 it came to light that Owen had been paying dividends despite trading at a loss. Owen was charged with various financial offences and convicted of issuing a false prospectus. He was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment.
He died in 1937 aged 74.
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