OWEN, John (?1702-54), of Presaddfed, Anglesey.

The son of a successful lawyer, who bought an estate in Anglesey, Owen was returned in 1741 by an alliance between a group of Tory families and the local Whigs under his leadership against the Bulkeley interest.See ANGLESEY. In Parliament he voted consistently with the Opposition. Quarrelling with his Whig allies in 1747, he went over to the Bulkeleys, who in 1753 rewarded him with the Beaumaris seat vacated by the death of the 6th Lord Bulkeley. He died 20 Feb. 1754, having been forced to sell most of his estate to meet his expenditure on the 1741 contest.