Constituency : Carmarthen Boroughs 1868-74
John replaced William Morris at Carmarthen. He was beginning his Parliamentary career rather late in life being 77 at the time of his election.
John was the son of a general and joined his father's regiment , the Coldstream Guards. He fought in the Peninsular Wars but an attack of dysentery meant he missed Waterloo. In 1830 he became a lieutenant-colonel. His son was killed in the Crimean War. In 1857 he inherited a sizable estate from his uncle after a long legal battle. He wished to develop it and the town of Llanelli is greatly shaped by his work.
John was known as "Old Whalebone" . He was a friend of Gladstone but Queen Victoria disliked him. He was an eccentric and sometimes disagreeable character.
John spoke against religious instruction in schools and electoral intimidation by landlords. In 1871 Gladstone made him a baronet.
John stepped down in 1874.
He died in 1877 aged 86.
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