Iolo Aneurin Williams

Captain Iolo Aneurin Williams (18 June 1890 – 18 January 1962), was a British writer, journalist and Liberal Party politician. His son was the composer Edward Williams.

Background Williams was born in Middlesbrough, the son of Aneurin Williams, who was a Liberal member of parliament. He was the brother of Ursula Williams who was also a Liberal politician. He was educated at Rugby School and King's College, Cambridge.

Folk song collecting Williams began collecting folk songs in the area around his home in Hindhead in 1912. He would cycle around the countryside and make contact with potential sources, sometimes with the assistance of the local Vicar. Being unable to write down the tunes he collected only the words. When he had sufficient sets of words he would return with either Clive Carey or Frederick Keel who would note the tunes. His collecting ceased with the outbreak of the First World War. After the war he succeeded Frederick Keel as Honorary Secretary of the Folk Song Society.

Military service Williams began as a volunteer driver for the B.R.C.S (British Red Cross). He was given a temporary commission of Lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment and was later promoted to Captain. The only record available is his Medal Index Card which does not give any dates.

Professional career Williams was Bibliographical Correspondent of the London Mercury from 1920–1939. He made contributions to the Dictionary of National Biography and the Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature. He was a published poet and writer.

Publications Poems, 1915 New Poems, 1919 Byways Round Helicon, 1922 Shorter Poems of the 18th Century, 1923 Seven 18th Century Bibliographies, 1924 Editor: plays of Sheridan, 1926 Elements of Book-Collecting, 1927 Poetry To-day, 1927 Where the Bee Sucks, 1929 (illustrated by Katharine Cameron) The Firm of Cadbury, 1931 Points in 18th Century Verse, 1934 English Folk Song and Dance, 1935 Flowers of Marsh and Stream (King Penguin), 1946 Early English Water-Colours, 1952

Political career Williams was Liberal candidate for the Chelsea division of London at the 1924 General Election. Chelsea was a safe Unionist seat, so he was not expected to win. 1924 was not a good election for the Liberals and he came in third place in the race. Despite this, he contested Chelsea again at the 1929 General Election, a better election for the Liberals. He increased the Liberal share of the vote, but still finished third. He did not stand for parliament again.

Electoral record

Personal life In 1920 he married Francion Elinor Dixon. They had one son and two daughters. where they had lived since at least the 1940s.

Family tree