David Alfred Thomas
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David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda (26 March 1856 – 3 July 1918) was a Welsh industrialist and Liberal politician.
Thomas was UK Member of Parliament (MP) for Merthyr Tydfil from 1888 until the January 1910 general elction, then MP for Cardiff until the December 1910 general election, when he left politics to concentrate on his business interests. He was an early supporter of the Cymru Fydd movement, but opposed its integration with the South Wales Liberal Federation, thus making an enemy of David Lloyd George.
Having made a fortune as owner of the Cambrian Collieries, he would return to politics as David Lloyd George's emissary to the USA, for which purpose he was created Baron Rhondda in 1916 and later Viscount Rhondda in 1918. In May, 1915 he was torpedoed on the RMS Lusitania. He and his daughter, Margaret were among the survivors. In 1916, he became President of the Local Government Board. As Food Controller during the latter part of World War I, he was very successful.
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: New Creation |
Baron Rhondda 1916–1918 |
Succeeded by: Extinct |
| Viscount Rhondda 1918 |
Succeeded by: Margaret Mackworth |
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