Jasper Wilson Johns

Who was Jasper Wilson Johns?

Jasper Wilson Johns was a civil engineer, merchant, railway promoter and Liberal Party politician.

Johns was the son of Thomas Evans Johns of Cardiganshire and his wife Elizabeth Tudor Avis. Johns became a civil engineer and practiced until 1854. He was then involved in William Bird & Co. of London, a firm of iron merchants. He was an active promoter of railways in Wales of which he was chairman or deputy chairman for many years until they were taken over by the London and North Western Railway. He was one of the earliest Volunteer officers as captain commanding the 3rd Montgomery Rifle Volunteers. He was a J. P. for Merioneth and Montgomery, and a Deputy Lieutenant for Merioneth.

Johns stood unsuccessfully for Parliament at Northallerton in 1865 and 1868. At the 1885 general election he was elected as Member of Parliament for Nuneaton. but was defeated at the 1886 general election and did not stand for Parliament again.

Johns married Emily Theresa Bird, in 1855. His daughter Mabel married Sir Francis Taylor Piggott, jurist and writer. He died in 1891, at the age of 67.