Thomas Johnes MP

Thomas Johnes (1748-1816) was born in Ludlow, Shropshire. He was heavily involved in the politics of West Wales, serving as MP for Cardigan Boroughs, Radnorshire and Cardiganshire. He was also colonel of the Carmarthenshire militia and Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire. He is most well known for his improvement of the Hafod Uchtryd estate near Cymystwyth, where he engaged a doctor to attend the poor, erected a new church and opened a school for girls. In addition he made great improvements to the land for the purpose of livestock and crop farming, and in 1800 he published 'A Cardiganshire Landlord's Advice to His Tenants' with an accompanying Welsh translation. He was known to offer prizes for good crops. Upon the death of his two children and his own failing health, Johnes sold the Hafod estate and bought a residence in Dawlish, Devon, where he died 23rd April 1816.