Sir Robert Thomas, 1st Baronet
# Sir Robert Thomas, 1st Baronet

Sir Robert John Thomas, 1st Baronet (23 April 1873 – 27 September 1951) was a Welsh businessman and Liberal Party politician, who was twice elected to Parliament.

Thomas was a ship and insurance broker. In 1918 he was created a Baronet, of Garreglwyd in the County of Anglesey.

## Politics

He was elected at the 1918 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the new constituency of Wrexham. Standing as a Liberal, with the official backing of the David Lloyd George led Coalition Government, he faced only a Labour Party opponent and won 76% of the votes.

General election 1918: Wrexham :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Robert Thomas | 20,874 | 76.3 | n/a |
| | Labour | Hugh Hughes | 6,500 | 23.7 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,374 | 52.6 | n/a |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 69.7 | n/a |
| | Liberal win | Liberal win | Liberal win | Liberal win | Liberal win |

At the 1922 general election he stood as a National Liberal Party candidate for Anglesey, losing by a margin of 9% to the sitting Labour MP Sir Owen Thomas.

1922 General Election: Anglesey :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Owen Thomas | 11,929 | 54.2 | +3.8 |
| | National Liberal | Robert Thomas | 10,067 | 45.8 | -3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,862 | 8.4 | +7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 80.5 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.8 | |

However, Owen Thomas died in January 1923, and at the resulting by-election in April Robert Thomas won a 3-way contest with 53% of the votes, and a 23% majority over the second-placed Labour candidate.

1923 Anglesey by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Robert Thomas | 11,116 | 53.3 | +7.5 |
| | Labour | Edward John | 6,368 | 30.5 | -23.7 |
| | Unionist | Richard Owen Roberts | 3,385 | 16.2 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | 22.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 76.4 | |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | +15.6 | |

He was returned unopposed at the general election in December 1923. He was returned by a majority of 28% over his Labour opponent at the election in 1924.

General election 1924: Anglesey :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Robert Thomas | 13,407 | 63.9 |
| | Labour | Cyril O Jones | 7,580 | 36.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,827 | 27.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

He stood down from Parliament at the 1929 general election.

## Arms

Coat of arms of Sir Robert Thomas, 1st Baronet :

* CrestOn the waves of the sea Proper between two anchors Sable a ship in full sail Proper.
* EscutcheonPer pale Gules and Azure on a chevron Argent between in dexter chief a sower scattering seed and in sinister chief on eagle displayed both Or and in base a garb of the last three fleurs-de-lis Sable.
* MottoFac Recte Et Nil Time
