The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting Liberal MP, Thomas Edward Ellis on 5 April 1899.
[1] Merionethshire Liberal Association considered a number of possible candidates but the favourite from an early stage was Owen Morgan Edwards, an academic at Lincoln College, Oxford, a native of Merionethshire who was described as an ardent Welsh Nationalist.
He wrote to Dr Edward Jones, chairman of the county Liberals, that he had many days of anxiety and sleepless nights since learning he was the front-runner.
[3] The Conservatives had fought Merionethshire at the 1895 general election and at its meeting in Dolgellau on 14 April 1899 resolved that the seat should be contested at the by-election.
Once Edwards was adopted by the Liberals, the Conservatives met again at Barmouth and this time decided not to oppose him.