William Owen Stanley

Who was William Owen Stanley?

Hon. William Owen Stanley was a British Liberal politician.

Stanley was a twin son of John Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley, and Lady Maria Josepha, daughter of John Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield. His brother was Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley. He became a solicitor.

Stanley was a Member of Parliament for Anglesey 1837-1847, City of Chester 1850-1857 and Beaumaris 1857-1874. He was also the Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey 2 March 1869 – 24 February 1884, Stanley was a captain and adjutant in the Grenadier Guards. As an antiquarian of wide reputation, he was the author of Anglesey and contributed many Celtic contributions, especially on Celtic subjects and his excavations at Holyhead and Castell, Anglesey, to Archaeologia Cambrensis.

Stanley married Ellin Williams, daughter of Sir John Williams of Bodelwyddan, Flintshire in 1832. He was heir to Penrhos estate in Anglesey where he lived throughout his life.

His monument is in St Cybi's Church, Holyhead.