Robert Joseph Davies, Cwrtmawr, Llangeitho was a leading figure in the political and religious life of Cardiganshire and in the Calvinistic Methodist denomination.
Background
Davies was born on 2 August 1839 at Llanbadarn Fawr, the son of Robert and Eliza Davies. His mother was the daughter of David Charles of Carmarthen, a pioneer of the Calvinistic Methodist denomination in Wales. Davies"s status within his denomination was further strengthened by his marriage in 1863 to Frances Humphreys of Llandyfaelog, Carmarthenshire, who was the great granddaughter of Peter Williams.
Education
Robert J. Davies was educated at the University College, London and at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester.
Career
He was the father of John Humphreys Peter Williams had been responsible for one of the most popular editions of the Welsh language Bible in the late eighteenth century. In 1873 Davies became treasurer of the Calvinistic Methodist General Assembly. He became a Justice of the Peace for Cardiganshire in 1870.
Following his return to Cardiganshire he spent the rest of his life on the small estate of Cwrtmawr, Llangeitho.
He became a prominent figure in the political life of the county and an active Liberal. Consequently, in 1886, when David Davies broke with Gladstone over Irish Home Rule, R.J. Davies supported the Liberal Unionist cause and, at a meeting in Aberystwyth, was instrumental in forming a joint committee of Conservatives and Liberal Unionists to promote his candidature.
In 1889, Davies stood for election at the first Cardiganshire County Council elections but was defeated. Three years later, however, he was returned unopposed.
He is described as an Unionist on that occasion although it was said that there were signs of his returning to the Liberal Party before the end of his life.
He was also a member and chairman of the Tregaron Board of Guardians. On the death of Henry Richard in 1888 a campaign was immediately launched to erect a statue in his memory at Tregaron. Davies was instrumental in this campaign as secretary to the local committee.
The campaign was successful and the statue holds pride of place until today.
He died suddenly on 6 May 1892, following a Guardians meeting at Tregaron.