John Ernest Greaves

John Ernest Greaves CBE (30 November 1847 – 27 February 1945) was a wealthy Welsh slate mine owner and Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire. Early life He was born on 30 November 1847 at Tan-yr-allt, Tremadog, the son of John Whitehead Greaves, who had been instrumental in the development of the slate industry around Blaenau Ffestiniog. He spent much of his childhood at his father's Llechwedd quarry and was educated at schools in Warwickshire, Edinburgh and Dorset before going to Worcester College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1867. Slate industry On his father's death he inherited a half share in the business and made his brother Richard Methuen Greaves the General Manager. They later turned the business into a limited company with John as Chairman and Richard as Managing Director. Public life He was appointed High Sheriff of Merionethshire for 1884 and for Caernarvonshire for 1885. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for Caernarvonshire. In 1886, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire, the first commoner to hold the position, serving until 1933.