William Robert Maurice Wynne

William Robert Maurice Wynne of Peniarth, Merionethshire (15 February 1840 – 5 February 1909), often referred to as W.R.M. Wynne, was a Conservative politician and prominent landowner who also made a notable contribution to the cultural life of Wales by donating the Peniarth Manuscripts to the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. Wynne also served as Conservative MP for Merioneth from 1865 to 1868. He stood down in 1868 when facing likely defeat by the Liberal candidate David Williams, following the Second Reform Act. Early life Wynne was the eldest son of William Watkin Edward Wynne of Peniarth and Mary Slaney, daughter of Robert Aglionby Slaney MP. He was educated at Eton and later served in the Scots Guards. In 1891, he married Winifred Frances Williamson, the widow of another landowner. Parliamentary career The 1865 General Election Wynne's father having served as MP for Merionethshire from 1852 until 1865. the 1859 General Election was characterised by allegations of coercion against tenant farmers who supported the Liberal challenger David Williams in an election noted for allegations of coercion. In 1865, his father retired and Wynne succeeds him as Conservative candidate. The Liberal press in North Wales was optimistic that the Liberals would capture the seat on this occasion and advised Wynne to withdraw. However, the Liberal campaign lacked organisation, and very few public meetings were held. Wynne held the seat with a slightly reduced majority, and this has been attributed by Ieuan Gwynedd Jones to 'a sense of terror' that had struck the mainly nonconformist tenant farmers.