Constituency : North Dorset 1922-24
John took North Dorset from the Tories in a straight fight, having come very close in 1918 despite the Tory having the coupon.
John was the son of a Cardiff coal merchant. He was educated privately and went into the shipping industry. He worked all over the world and in 1920 founded the Dragon Steam Ship Company. He was a one time President of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce.
John championed the cause of agricultural workers and was re-elected in 1923. He fought for them to be included in Labour's Minimum Wage Bill. He was defeated in 1924.
In 1929, John fought Cardiff East and came a credible second to Labour. He fought on the Liberals' unemployment policy. In 1931 he dropped to third as the Tories took the seat, having previously indicated he might stand down if the local Liberals and Tories reached an agreement. In 1935 he failed to hold Flintshire for the Liberals, coming second to the Tory. He returned to Cardiff East for the 1945 election but came third.
John's business took a significant hit when he criticised Franco's regime in Spain and supported his opponents.
He and his wife were killed in a plane crash in France in 1952. He was 63. His son John was a Liberal candidate in the fifties.
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