William Edward Powell

William Edward Powell (16 February 1788 – 10 April 1854) was a Welsh Lord Lieutenant and Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardiganshire from 1816 until shortly before his death in 1854.

[1][2] Brought up in France by his widowed mother, Powell finally occupied his father's estate at Nanteos, near Aberystwyth at the age of 21 in 1809.

[3] Despite earning a reputation for living beyond his means and evidence of neglect on his substantial Cardiganshire estates, he was returned to Parliament in 1816 as a Conservative upon the death of Thomas Johnes.

[1] There was some support at the time for Herbert Evans of Highmead as an alternative candidate but Powell secured the candidacy soon after issuing an address to the electors.

[1] As Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire and MP for the county, Powell considered it necessary to entertain on a lavish scale both at Nanteos and at his London residence.