Owen Cosby Philipps, 1st Baron Kylsant

• Kelly’s directory of 1905 has the following entry:

Owen Cosby Philipps, third son of the Rev. Sir James Erasmus Philipps, Bart., b 1863, m 1902 Mai Alice Magdalen Morris d of the late Thomas Morris DL JP of Coomb. High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire 1904. JP Pembrokeshire and Glasgow. As a young man he was apprenticed at Newcastle on Tyne. He founded the King Line on the Clyde and later became director and then chairman of Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. He purchased Pacific Steam Navigation for £1.5m and interests in other shipping companies. He acquired Union Castle Mail Steamship Company in 1912. In 1927 he purchased Oceanic Steam Navigation Co (White Star Line) for £7m and invited public subscription/preference shares. In 1924 he had assumed control of Harland and Wolf. The depression started. In July 1931 he was tried for issuing false accounts – not guilty and for a false prospectus for which he was sentenced to 12 months in the second division. He earned much sympathy by his attitude in Court where he accepted full liability. On his return to Amroth his car was pulled by 40 men under the special arch of welcome. He retired to Coombe where he died.
He was MP for Pembroke Borough and Haverfordwest 1906-1910 and City of Chester 1916-1922. Created baron Kylsant 1923. Lord Lieutenant of Haverfordwest 1923-1931. 1920 purchase of Plas Llanstephan. After the First World War the grounds were opened to the public for a big peace celebration with tea, bonfire and fireworks. In the 1920’s whist drives were held for various causes in the large laundry room.