Birthplaces of Welsh Political Leaders.

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These lists detail important Welsh Leaders. 

Some will have differing views on these leaders. Some will claim they are good, some bad. But here is an effort to note them.

 

Welsh Leaders

Birthplaces of Welsh First Ministers. In Welsh this is known as Prif Weinidog Cymru. The position was known as the First Secretary.  

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

Alun Michael. 1999–2000.  Bryngwran, Anglesey, Wales. Labour Party.

Rhodri Morgan. 2000–2009. Cardiff, Wales. Labour Party.

Carwyn Jones. 2009 -18. Swansea, Wales. Labour Party.

Mark Drakeford. 2018 - 2024- . Carmarthen, Wales. Labour Party.

Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething 2024, Luzaka, Zambia, Labour Party,  

Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely, 2024 - , Cardiff, Wales, Labour Party, 

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Deputy First Minister of Wales.

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

Michael German. 2000 – 2003. Cardiff, Wales. Liberal Democrat.

Jennifer Elizabeth Randerson, Baroness Randerson. Acting 2001 – 2002. London, England. Liberal Democrat.

Ieuan Wyn Jones.  2007 – 2011. Denbigh, North Wales. Plaid Cymru.

Huw Irranca-Davies, 2024 - , Gowerton, Wales, Labour Party, 

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Ministers of Welsh Affairs (1951–1964).

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

David Patrick Maxwell Fyfe, 1st Earl of Kilmuir. 1951–54. Edinburgh, Scotland. Conservative Party.

Gwilym Lloyd George. 1954–57. Criccieth, Wales. Liberal, National Liberal.

Henry Brooke, Baron Brooke of Cumnor. 1957–61. Oxford, England. Conservative Party.

Charles Hill. 1961–62. London, England. Conservative Party.

Sir Keith Joseph. 1961–64. London, England. Conservative Party.

 

Secretaries of State for Wales (1964–present last updated 2021).

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

Jim Griffiths. 1964–66. Betws, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Labour Party.

Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos. 1966–68. Holyhead, Wales. Labour Party.

George Thomas. Viscount Tonypandy, 1968–70. Port Talbot, Wales. Labour Party.

Peter Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gwydir. 1970–74. Llanrwst, North Wales. Conservative Party.

John Morris. 1974-79. Capel Bangor, Wales. Labour Party.

Nicholas Edwards, Baron Crickhowell. 1979–87. London, England. Conservative Party.

Peter Walker. 1979–87. London, England. Conservative Party.

David Hunt. 1990–93, and 1995. Glyn Ceiriog, Wales. Conservative Party.

John Redwood. 1993–95. Dover, Kent, England. Conservative Party.

William Hague. Baron Hague of Richmond, 1995–97. Rotherham, England. Conservative Party.

Ron Davies. 1997–98. Machen, Monmouthshire, Wales. Labour, Forward Wales, Independent.  Plaid Cymru. 

Alun Michael. 1998–99. Bryngwran, Anglesey, Wales. Labour Party.

Paul Murphy, Baron Murphy of Torfaen. 1999–2002 and 2008–09. Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales. Labour Party.

Peter Hain. 2002–2008 and 2009–2010. Nairobi, British Kenya. Labour Party.

Cheryl Gillan. 2010–2012. Cardiff, Wales. Conservative Party.

David Jones. 2012–2014. Stepney, London. Conservative Party.

Stephen Crabb. 2014–2016. Inverness, Scotland. Conservative Party.

Alun Cairns. 2016–2019. Swansea, Wales. Conservative Party.

Simon Hart. 2019- 2022. Wolverhampton, England. Conservative Party.

Robert Buckland, 2022, Llanelli, Wales, Conservative Party, 

David TC Davies 2022- 2024, London, England, (Welsh MP), Conservative Party, 

Jo Stevens, Swansea, Wales,2024 -, Labour Party, 

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Prime Ministers

There has never been a Welsh born Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. But  David Lloyd George was certainly Welsh. He considered himself, Welsh, was very proud of this, as well even in favour of a degree of self rule. He spoke Welsh as his first language, grew up in North Wales from age 3 months, and was the son of Welsh parents, and was brought up by a family and community that were of course largely a Welsh language culture in North West Wales. So there is no doubt he was Welsh.

He was born in Manchester, England. He was in power from 1916-22. He was a member of the Liberal Party, Coalition Liberal and National Liberal. Plus he was chancellor of the exchequer, from 1908 to 1915, and wartime minister of munitions, om of the most important chancellors. He lived in Llanystumdwy, has a museum about him, so like recent US presidents have a library in honour of them, and was made 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor. Plus led the now 3rd party Liberals again in the late 1920s. 

 

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Welsh Born Deputy Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom.

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

Geoffrey Howe. 1989–90. Port Talbot, Wales. Conservative Party.

Michael Heseltine. 1995–97. Swansea, Wales. Conservative Party.

John Prescott. 1997–2007. Prestatyn, Wales. Labour Party.

 

Welsh Born Chancellors of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom.

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

Roy Jenkins. 1967-70. Abersychan, Monmouthshire, Wales. Labour, Social Democratic Party, Liberal Democrats.

Geoffrey Howe.  1979–83. Port Talbot, Wales. Conservative Party.

 

David Lloyd George was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1908–15.

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Welsh Born Foreign Secretaries.

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

Geoffrey Howe. 1983–87. Port Talbot, Wales. Conservative Party.

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Welsh Born Secretaries of State for the Home Department

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare. 1868–73. Duffryn, Aberdare, Glamorganshire. Liberal Party.

Gwilym Lloyd George. 1954–57. Criccieth, North Wales. Liberal, National Liberal.

Roy Jenkins. 1965–67, and 1974–76. Abersychan, Monmouthshire, Wales. Labour. Social Democratic Party. Liberal Democrats.

Merlyn Rees. 1976-79. Cilfynydd, Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. Labour Party.

Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne. 1993–97. Swansea, Wales. Conservative Party.

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Also Labour PM James Callaghan was PM in the late 1970s while being a English born MP in Wales, (and he was a rare politician to be Home and Foreign secretary and Chancellor and PM posts, the 4 main posts in peacetime) and Michael Foot while leader of the Labour Party in the early 1980s, was a English born, Labour MP, in Wales. (Along with many cabinet posts as many Welsh born Labour and Conservative and Liberal MPs, have been)  In addition, Lloyd George was leader of the Liberal Party when it was the 3rd largest party in Britain, in the late 1920s, to early 1930s, and a Cledwyn Davies was leader of the Liberal party in the fifties, Cledwyn Davies was Welsh born.

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Also when the SDP split off from Labour in the 1980s, although Labour had many Welsh politicians, the SDP when it allied to the Liberal Party in the Alliance pact, had 2 leaders in the 1980s out of 3,, who had Welsh roots, Roy Jenkins, Welsh born, and David Owen, English born, but with 2 Welsh parents.  Though of course a list politicians across Britain with Welsh roots would be even longer, so maybe that should be limited there.

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The other most notable Welsh Labour politician not mentioned here is Aneurin Bevan, Nye Bevan, born in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, in the South Wales coalfields, who was Deputy Leader of the Labour Party for a year from the late fifties, and the head of the left of the Labour Party, in that decade. Most importantly though in the Labour government of the 1940s he helped establish the National Health Service, this in the vital position as minister of health.

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Also Thomas Cromwell had some Welsh roots, the famous Tudor advisor of Henry the 8th, who has a claim for being the first PM, centuries before Walpole, though maybe many advisors have a claim like that, likely every king had someone like that. Plus also maybe many many people had some Welsh heritage when going back to some extent, and in a sense everybody does. Plus also Oliver Cromwell did as well, but most of his ancestry was from England. Though for both these, the Welsh heritage or rather ancestry was important in the family tree.

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Of course just about every Welsh prince from the Llewellyn's backwards was born in Wales,  so that list would be extensive, it is not always known where they were born though.

 

Welsh Born Kings of England, the first 2 it must be said, one is the son of the cruel King Edward I, who despite proclaiming his son Prince of Wales, was a enemy of the native Welsh princes and of Scotland's William Wallace for that matter, who of course defeated his forces at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Then the second actually was born at the tail end of the revolt of Owain Glwyndwr, the last "native" Welsh prince of Wales, The last of course was prided in by many as a  Welsh king of England by many, though most would say he was a person of English identity really.

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace.

Edward II. 1307–1327. Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd, Wales. Though

Henry V. 1413 – 1422.  Monmouth Castle, Wales.

Henry VII. 1485 – 1509. Pembroke Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

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Welsh princes just some

Owain Glyndwr 1349/ 1359 to 1415?, Sycharth Castle, Powys, North East Wales, Prince of Wales,

Llewellyn Fawr, 1173 to 1240, Dolwydellan, Prince of Gwynedd,

Dafydd Ap Llewellyn, Castell Hen Blas, Bagillt, 1212 to 1246,  Prince of Wales,

Llewellyn the Last, 1223 to 1282, North Wales,

Owain Gwynedd, 1100 to 1170, King of Gwynedd, Prince of Wales, born in Anglesey, 

Rhys Ap Gruffydd, 1132 to 1197, Prince of Deheubarth, Certainly South West Wales,

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In the Dark Ages, the period before the 11th Century, and such, the pre eminent Welsh prince was known as King of the Britons, great ones from Wales include Maelgwyn of Gwynedd, Rhodri Mawr, and Hywel Dda, though  I am uncertain of their birthplaces.

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Magnus Maximus of Rome was born in Iberia, but after setting up a Empire in the western part of Rome's Empire became a major part of Welsh legends, for later Welsh kings,  even though other rulers followed him.

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King Arthur, the mythical king of the Britons, has many connections to Wales in legend, but such a figure would have been based on real figures some of whom had been born in Wales, and some in modern England. The great city of Bath, would have been or Caerleon a place for such figures to be born as of their Roman heritage and great structures, but who knows really.

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Foreign leaders.

Welsh Born Prime Ministers of Australia.

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

 Julia Gillard. 2010–13. Barry, Wales. Labor Party.

 

William Morris Hughes was born in London, but was brought up in North Wales, and had Welsh parents. He was Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923.

 

Welsh Born Deputy Prime Ministers of Australia.

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace. Party.

Julia Gillard. 2007 – 10. Barry, Wales. Labor Party.

 

Welsh Born Governor of Hong Kong

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace.

Sir Edward Youde. 1982 – 1986. Penarth, Wales.

 

EEC.European Economic Community later knownh as the European Union

Welsh Born Presidents of the European Commission,

Name. Time In Power. Birthplace.

Roy Jenkins. 1977 – 81. Abersychan, Monmouthshire, Wales

 

Welsh Born Governors of USA states
Name. Time In Power, Birthplace. USA State Governor of. Political Party.

John Edward Jones. 1895 – 96. Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Nevada. Silver Party.

D. W. Davis. 1919 – 23. Cardiff, Wales. Idaho. Republican Party.

 

United Nations. Welsh born Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations

Name. Birthplace. Time in Power.

Sir Emyr Jones Parry. Carmarthen. 2003-07.

 

UK Leaders of the Opposition.

There have been two Welsh born Leaders of the Opposition.

Name. Birthplace. Time in Power. Party.

Neil Kinnock. 1983–92 Tredegar, Wales. Labour Party.

Michael Howard. Swansea, Wales. 2003-05. Conservative Party.

 

 

Welsh Born United States Cabinet Secretaries.

James J. Davis. Born Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales. United States Secretary of Labor 1921-30.

 

Another notable Welsh person is Anthony Hopkins. Born in Port Talbot, Wales. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1991. This is also known as an Oscar win.

Jonathan Pryce was nominated for best actor at the Oscars in 2019. Her was born in Carmel, Flintshire, Wales.

Richard Burton born in Glamorgan, Wales, was nominated for best actor at the Oscars on numerous occasions.

 

 

USA Presidents with Welsh heritage.

 

John Adams.

President 1797-1801.

Vice President 1789-97.

Ancestry linked back to Llanboidy, Carmarthenshire.

 

Thomas Jefferson.

President 1801 - 1809.

Vice President 1797- 1801.

The father of this President, Peter Jefferson, named his estate, on the James River, as Snowden. Snowden is the highest mountain in Wales.

 

James Madison.

President 1809-1817.

 

James Monroe.

President 1817-1825.

 

 

John Quincy Adams.

President 1825-1829.

 

William Henry Harrison.

President 1841-1841.

 

Abraham Lincoln.

President 1861-1865.

Had ancestors from Ysbyty Ifan, North Wales.

 

James A Garfield

President 1881.

 

President Benjamin Harrison.

President 1889-1893.

 

Theodore Roosevelt.

President 1901-1909.

Vice President 1901-01.

 

Calvin Coolidge.

President 1921- 1929.

 

Richard Nixon.

President 1969-1974.

Vice President 1953- 61.

Remote Welsh Heritage

 

Barack Obama.

President 2009– 2017

Remote Welsh Heritage

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Joe Biden, 

President 2021-

Remote Welsh Heritage

 

Jefferson Davis.

President of the Confederate States 1862–1865.

 

 

Vice Presidents of the USA, with Welsh heritage.

Dick Cheney.

Vice President 2001–2009.

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Hubert Humphrey 

Vice President 1965-1969

 

 

 

Other notable people include

Hillary Clinton. a former First Lady of the United States. She is a former USA Secretary of State and twice former Presidential candidate. Her grandparents were from Wales, and she is proud of her Welsh roots.

There was nearly another USA First Lady of Welsh ancestry. As Mitt Romney was a runner-up in the 2012 presidential election. His wife Ann Romney, is of Welsh ancestry.

Egyptian president Mubarak, of the 1980s and 1990s and 2000s, before the Arab Spring, well his wife, was half Welsh, she she having a Mother who had been a nurse in Pontypridd. 

Plus of course William Hague's, a leader of the Tory party in the early 2000s, wife is Welsh. 

Francois Fillon, the PM of France under Sarkozy in the 2000s, well his wife was Welsh. 

Plus William Gladstone one of the 2 most significant PMs of late 19th Century had a wife who was born in Wales. 

Of course the tale in the Mabinogion is that a Roman Emperor's wife is Welsh. as I say his Welsh name is Macsen Wledig, Magnus Maximus, 

Indeed St Patrick may have been from Wales, as too was St David of course. Though many say St Patrick was actually from Ireland after all. 

Charles Evans Hughes Sr was Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, the Governor of New York, the Republican presidential candidate in the 1916 presidential election, and the United States Secretary of State. His father was a preacher, who moved to the USA from Wales.

John Glover Roberts Jr. The 17th Chief Justice of the United States has Welsh heritage.

Francis Lewis, born in Llandaff, Wales, was a signer on the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New York.

Harold Clayton Lloyd Sr. was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer, who was major star in the silent era. He had Welsh heritage.

The Morgan family is a major banking dynasty, in the USA. Best known is John Pierpont (J. P.) Morgan, who dominated USA finance, from the late 19th century, and early 20th century. The Morgan banking dynasty are of Welsh heritage.

Sir Howard Stringer is a British-American businessman. He was chairman of the board, chairman, president and CEO of the Sony Corporation. He was born in Cardiff, Wales in the nineteen forties.

Top Welsh comedians include Harry Secombe, Terry Jones, Max Boyce, Rhod Gilbert,  and Rob Brydon. 

For a period from the early 19th Century, the what are about a million people strong of today, Khasi people, of North East India, saw so many Welsh missionaries arrive that their national anthem is based on that of the Welsh anthem. 

Wales has up to 2022 had 4 nobel laureates, including Bertrand Russell, and Martin Evans. 

Plus Archbishop of Canterbury such as Rowan Williams. 

There was also a Welsh born man who was Governor of Cape Colony in 19th Century,

Alfred Russel Wallace was born Wales. He also died in Wales. 

As was Bertrand Russell. 

Plus Lawrence of Arabia, and Anthony Hopkins, and Tom Jones. 

Plus the late 17th Century Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, Henry Morgan. Plus comedian Tommy Cooper. Plus Alfred Russell Wallace. Lost of men and women. So a good list. 

Thomas Henry Blythe, born Thomas Williams in Mold, Flintshire, Wales. Blythe is best known for developing the Palo Verde Valley in South California, and obtaining rights to Colorado River water to irrigate the valley. He did this in the 19th century.

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