Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Kenyon, George Thomas
KENYON, GEORGE THOMAS (1840–1908), politician, second son of Lloyd Kenyon, third baron Kenyon, by his wife Georgina, daughter of Thomas de Grey, fourth baron Walsingham, waa born in London on 28 Dec. 1840. He was educated at Harrow (1854–60), entered Christ Church, Oxford, in 1860, graduated B.A. with second class honours in law and history in 1864, and proceeded M.A. in 1870. In 1869 he became a barrister of the Middle Temple. He contested the Denbigh boroughs unsucoessfully as a conservative in 1874 and 1880, but won the seat in 1885 and held it until 1895, and again from 1900 to 1905. In 1897 he stood unsuccessfully for East Denbighshire at a bye-election. He promoted the Wrexham and Ellesmere railway and was its first chairman (1891-1908). In 1873 he published a life of his ancestor, the first baron Kenyon (1732-1802). His chief interest was the promotion of secondary and higher education in Wales, and to his enlightened zeal was largely due the passing of the Welsh Intermediate Education Act of 1889, which established the present comprehensive system of secondary schools in Wales. The bill was introduced by Stuart (afterwards Lord) Rondel, the leader of the Welsh liberal members. But the conservatives were in power, and it was Kenyon's influence which secured its passage, with some slight changes. Kenyon took an active part in the establishment of the University of Wales and was its junior deputy-chancellor from 1898 to 1900. He died on 26 Jan. 1908, at his seat of Llanneroh Panna, near Ellesmere. On 21 Oct. 1875 he married Florence Anna, daughter of J. H. Leche, of Garden Park, Chester. He left no issue. There is a portrait by E. Miller at Llannerch Panna.
[Who's Who, 1907; Alumni Oxonienses; The Times, 28 Jan. 1908; information supplied by Lord Kenyon.]