Edward Gordon Douglas-Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn (born Douglas; 20 June 1800 – 31 March 1886), was a British Conservative Party politician, landowner in Wales. He played a major part in the development of the Welsh slate industry.
Contents
Life
Penrhyn was the younger son of the Hon. John Douglas and his wife, Lady Frances Lascelles, daughter of the 1st Earl of Harewood. The 14th Earl of Morton was his paternal grandfather and The 17th Earl of Morton was his elder brother. He served as an officer in the Grenadier Guards.
He inherited the Penrhyn Estate near Bangor in north-west Wales through his wife's father, George Hay Dawkins-Pennant, and changed his name to Douglas-Pennant by Royal licence in 1841.
This made him the owner of the Penrhyn Quarry near Bethesda, Wales, which under his ownership developed into one of the two largest slate quarries in the world. He was also involved in politics and sat as Member of Parliament for Caernarvonshire between 1841 and 1866. He also held the honorary post of Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire.
On 30 August 1852, he was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant to revive and command the county militia regiment, the Royal Carnarvon Rifles. He commanded the regiment until 1858, when he became its Honorary Colonel.
In 1866, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Penrhyn, of Llandegai in the County of Carnarvon.
In 1868, he sacked 80 workers from Penrhyn Quarry for failing to vote for his son George Douglas-Pennant in the general election.
The village of Llandygai was developed by Lord Penrhyn as a 'model village' for his estate workers, in which 'no corrupting alehouse' was permitted. The village lies immediately outside of the walls of the Penrhyn Castle demesne walls, with the entrance to the village being some 100m from the castle's Grand Lodge. Pennant loaned the land the village was to be built on as a 30-year lease to the quarrymen who were to live there. The quarrymen built the entire village infrastructure and buildings with no help from Pennant, but 30 years later he took full ownership of the land and village.
Lord Penrhyn died in 1886, aged 85.
Marriage and issue
Lord Penrhyn married, firstly, Juliana Isabella Mary (died 25 April 1842), daughter of George Hay Dawkins-Pennant, in 1833. They had two sons and four daughters.
Hon. Caroline Elizabeth Emma (20 May 1834 – 1 June 1924), married in 1857 James McGarel-Hogg, 1st Baron Magheramorne
Hon. Emma Juliana Sophia (17 July 1835 – 11 August 1909), died unmarried
Major Hon. George Sholto Gordon (30 September 1836 – 10 March 1907), married firstly in 1860, Pamela Blanche (died 1989), daughter of Sir Charles Rushout Rushout, 2nd Baronet; secondly to Gertrude Jessy, daughter of Rev. Henry Glynne, M.P.
Hon. Archibald Charles Henry (22 November 1837 – 7 September 1884), married in 1865, Hon. Harriet Ella Gifford, daughter of Robert Gifford, 2nd Baron Gifford; father of Frank Douglas-Pennant, 5th Baron Penrhyn
Hon. Eleanor Frances Susan (12 December 1838 – 13 September 1919)
Harriet (20–24 June 1840), died in infancy
After her death, he married, secondly, Lady Maria Louisa, daughter of Henry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton, in 1846. They had five daughters:
Hon. Louisa Mary (13 July 1847 – 19 June 1911), died unmarried
Hon. Mary Georgina (1 May 1849 – 20 October 1926), died unmarried
Hon. Eva Anna Caroline (12 January 1852 – 3 January 1934), married Lord William Seymour
Hon. Gertrude Emma (11 June 1856 – 20 July 1944), died unmarried