Fonds GB 0210 VICANS - J. Victor Evans Papers,

John Victor Evans (1895-1957), was born at Aberdare was educated at Christ College, Brecon. Having served in the army during the First World War, on his return home, he enrolled at Christ College, Oxford, graduating in history in 1922. He was called to the Bar in 1924. He was nominated as the Liberal candidate for Pontypridd in the general election of May 1929 and for Merthyr Tydfil in a parliamentary by-election in June 1934. In 1930 he was appointed a lecturer in the Law Department of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, but five years later he returned to practise as a barrister. In 1936, he accepted an appointment as the first warden of the Aberdare Valley Educational Settlement (Coleg Gwerin Cynon Aberdâr). He retired from Aberdare in 1939, taking an appointment in the Ministry of Economic Warfare. Evans ended his career in the Ministry of Supply. He died at his home at Dulwich Village, London, on 15 May 1957. Evans undertook research on the politician Henry Richard (1812-1888). Henry Richard was educated at a school in Llangeithio and was apprenticed to a draper in Carmarthen in 1826. Following his decision to become a minister he went to Highbury College, London and was ordained minister of Malborough Chapel, Old Kent Road, London in 1835. He remained at Malborough Chapel until he retired from the ministry in 1850. In 1848 he became secretary of the Peace Society. In 1868 he was elected Liberal MP for Merthyr Tudfil, having withdrawn as a candidate for Cardiganshire in 1865. He was also involved in the enquiry into the condition of intermediate and higher education in Wales and Monmouthshire by a departmental committee of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He married Matilda Augusta Farley in 1866 and died in 1888.