William Lloyd George, 3rd Viscount Tenby

Who is William Lloyd George, 3rd Viscount Tenby?

William Lloyd George, 3rd Viscount Tenby is a British peer, soldier and JP. He is one of the ninety hereditary peers in the House of Lords elected to remain after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999.

Lord Tenby is the son of Gwilym Lloyd George, 1st Viscount Tenby, and Edna Gwenfrom Jones. His father was a National Liberal politician who served as Home Secretary under Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden. Lord Tenby's paternal grandfather was David Lloyd George, the British Liberal Prime Minister 1916–1922, who also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer 1908–1915; thus he and his heir are in remainder to that earldom too. Ironically, David Lloyd George's 1909 Budget, which was rejected out of hand by the House of Lords, paved the way for reform of that House.

He was educated at Eastbourne College and at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he read History and graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1949. In 1983, he succeeded his elder brother to the title. Tenby had previously served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, advancing to the rank of Captain.

In July 1955, the 1st Viscount Tenby became the last Home Secretary to authorise the execution of a woman in the United Kingdom, Ruth Ellis. Ultimately, citing precedence and the law of the time, Tenby authorised the execution, despite some public opposition.