Edgar Rees Jones was born on 27 August 1878, the son of the Baptist minister Morgan Humphrey Jones and Margaret Ann Jones of Gorwel, Rhondda.[4] A Welsh speaker, he was educated in law at the University of Wales[5] and Cardiff University College, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1900 and Master of Arts degree in 1903;[4] his MA thesis was on "Political theories in England in the Seventeenth Century".[6] In September 1919,[2] he married Lillian Eleanor May, daughter of George Brackley.[4] He was known to reside at 28 Westminster Mansions, Great Smith Street, Westminster.[2]
He was once a civil servant in the Ministry of Munitions and served as head of the Priorities Division of this ministry during World War I.[12][13][14] He was chairman of the National Food Canning Council (NFCC).[12]
Along with fellow Coalition Liberal Lewis Haslam of the Newport constituency, Jones played a minor role in the discussions behind the Government of Ireland Bill.[3] Haslam in particular was strongly opposed to giving the Irish Parliament control of its own taxes.[3]
^ abThe Times House of Commons 1910 (2nd ed.). London: Methuen. 2010 [1910]. p. 89. ISBN978-1-84275-034-6.
^Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 458. ISBN0-900178-27-2.
^Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 538. ISBN0-900178-06-X.
^Craig, British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, p. 232
^Craig, British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, p. 558