William George

William George (23 February 1865−25 January 1967) was a Welsh solicitor and public figure who served for 60 years as a member of Caernarfonshire County Council. He was the younger brother of the Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George. Early life and education George was born on 23 February 1865 at Highgate, a house in Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd, that now forms part of the Lloyd George Museum. His father, William George, a school teacher, had predeceased him, having died of pneumonia in June 1864. With his brother David (later Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) and his sister Mary Elin, he was brought up by his mother, Elisabeth (née Lloyd) (1828−1896), and by his uncle, Richard Lloyd, a shoemaker, Baptist minister and Liberal, who had a strong influence on the careers and outlook of both of his nephews. George was educated at the Anglican national school in Llanystumdwy. Career and public life Having become an articled clerk in 1882, George joined his brother David in the law partnership of Lloyd George & George in Criccieth, his brother having taken on their uncle Richard Lloyd's surname to become Lloyd George. When David entered politics, then unpaid, William agreed to support him financially from the partnership. In 1905, David gained a salaried post as President of the Board of Trade, and William, no longer financially supporting his brother, could spend more time on public life. His son W. R. P. George wrote that "Without [William's] self-sacrifice it is difficult to see how David Lloyd George could have developed into a professional politician so early in his career. The letters between them show that David placed great importance on William's judgement on current topics". George was a member of Caernarfonshire County Council from 1907 to 1967, being its chair in 1911. He was active in the areas of education (chair of the Education Committee from 1916 to 1948), promotion of the Welsh language (translating the National Insurance Act 1911 into Welsh with a glossary of legal terms), and co-operation between county councils. He was honorary solicitor to the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1937 to 1956, and was elected a fellow of the Eisteddfod in 1956. He was the longest serving councillor in British history.