Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn

Who was Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn?

Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn was a Welsh industrialist and Liberal politician.

Dillwyn was born in Swansea, Wales, the second son of Lewis Weston Dillwyn and Mary Dillwyn. His father had been sent to Swansea by his father William, to take over the management of the Cambrian Pottery, and lived at Sketty Hall. He was educated at Bath, Somerset and joined his father in the management of the Cambrian Pottery in 1831. His father was a friend of the geologist Henry De la Beche and Dillwyn and De la Beche carried out experiments on china clays and granites with the aim of improving the production of earthenware. In 1838 Dillwyn married de la Beche's daughter Elizabeth and they lived at Hendrefoilan.

Dillwyn followed his father and his Quaker antecedents in pursuing industry and commerce and radical politics. He was head of the firm of Dillwyn and Richards at the Landore spelter-works and was a director of the Great Western Railway and Chairman of the Glamorganshire Banking Co. He played a major part in the industrial development of Swansea. Later, he was associated with Siemens in the Landore-Siemens Steel Company, and became its chairman. In 1859 he was appointed Captain in Glamorgansire Rifle Volunteers