William Mostyn Owen, born William Mostyn, was a British land-owner and Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire.
Background
William Mostyn was born c. 1742, the eldest son of William Mostyn of Bryngwyn, and his wife Grace Wynn, daughter of Robert Wynn of Plas Newydd. He married Rebecca Dod, daughter of Thomas Dod of Edge, Cheshire (c 1688–1759).
William Mostyn Owen (died 1849) succeeded to his father"s estates.
He married Harriet Elizabeth Cumming, eldest daughter of Major T. Cumming of Bath and had issue.
Education
He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1761, and the Middle Temple, where he was admitted in 1759.
Career
With her, he had the following issue:
The Reverend Edward Henry Owen (died 1839). He was a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and rector of Cound, Shropshire (from 1816). Rebecca Owen. Frances Maria Owen (died 1840).
Harriet Owen.
Sobieski Owen (died 1858). Eloisa Owen (died 1872). Laura (Mostyn) Owen (died 1864).
Until the early 1770s, the two main families in Montgomeryshire were the Wynns of Wynnstay and the Herberts of Powis Castle.
The Wynns appointed one of their kin, Watkin Williams, after Kynaston"s death, but at the 1774 election, the Dowager Lady Powis nominated Owen as their candidate, in opposition to Williams. In Parliament, despite initially voting with Frederick North, Lord North, he switch to the opposition for the rest of his premiership.
This upset Lord Powis, who supported the government, but at the 1780 election, the Wynns, opposition supporters, backed Owen and he was re-elected unopposed. The same was true for 1784.
During the 1780s, he again voted with the opposition for the most part, and opposed William Pitt the Younger throughout his premiership.
He was considered a Portland Whig by 1792, but his ill health caused his attendance to decline, and he died on 11 March 1795. He was never recorded speaking in the house. Bibliography.
Membership
14th Parliament of Great Britain. 15th Parliament of Great Britain. 16th Parliament of Great Britain.
17th Parliament of Great Britain]
Up to 1772, the families were allied in their agreement over who to return as the county"s single Member of Parliament.
Edward Kynaston was their choice, but died in 1772, followed by Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Powis.