Born in 1803 as Hugh Owen Lord, Owen was the son of Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet and his first wife Charlotte, daughter of John Lewes Philipps. He was a descendant of the nobleman Hwfa ap Cynddelw to the Owens of Orielton, Pembrokeshire, a family known for parliamentary and military service in Pembrokeshire. His surname was changed to Owen when his father inherited the estates of Hugh Owen's cousin Sir Hugh Owen, 6th Baronet, whom Owen was named after. Educated at Eton College in 1817, and graduating from Christ Church, Oxford in 1822, he first married Angelina Maria Cecilia, daughter of Sir Charles Morgan, 2nd Baronet in 1825, and they had five sons and three daughters, including: Hugh Charles Owen ; John Owen ; Arthur Owen ; and, William Owen. After Angelina's death in 1844, he remarried in 1845 to Henrietta Fraser, daughter of Edward Rodney, and they had one son and three daughters, including: Alice Henrietta Rodney Owen ; Ellen Rodney Owen; Edith Rodney Owen; and George Rodney Owen.
Political career
Both Owen's father and cousin Hugh had been Tory MPs for Pembroke between 1809 and 1812, with the father also holding Pembrokeshire between 1812 and 1841. Owen also entered Parliament when he was first elected MP for Pembroke unopposed at the 1826 general election as a Tory, after which he admitted his youth and experience, and declared support for religious toleration but not Catholic relief. Although he was re-elected numerous times, including as a Conservative in 1832, Owen was often criticised for an "inattention for his parliamentary duties". In Parliament, he voted against abolition of the Welsh courts, arguing "our sessions should be held in future where they are at present held and, when the bill received Royal Assent, he signed a memorial expressing regret for it. Owen was also against the parliamentary reform scheme put forward by Lord Blandford, divided against emancipation and the Galway franchise bill, and presented petitions for the abolition of slavery. In 1831, he divided against the Grey ministry's reform bill and for Isaac Gascoyne's wrecking amendment, and later divided against a reintroduced version of the former in 1831, and then again upon its second and third readings. He later resigned in 1838 when his father obliged him to vacate the seat for Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet.
After 23 years of absence from Parliament, in January 1861, he attempted to be elected as a Liberal for Pembrokeshire at a by-election resulting from the elevation of the sitting member, Lord Emlyn, to the peerage following the death of his father. Owen's candidacy was from the outset impacted upon by his financial difficulties, even though it was confidently asserted that his ebts would be honoured. Nominating him at Haverfordwest, Thomas Davies Lloyd of Bronwydd referred to the tradition of the house of Orielton and trusted that their fortunes would be revived. Owen was however, unsuccessful.
Member for Pembroke Boroughs
Nevertheless, the next month, he was elected as a Liberal in his former constituency, Pembroke, succeeding his father who had recently died, at a by-election in 1861. There was mounting opposition to Owen during the 1860s, and in 1864 there were suggestions that he be replaced by Richard Potter, chairman of the Great Western Railway. However, he held the seat until he was defeated in 1868.
Baronetcy
Owen succeeded his father as Baronet of Orielton, Pembrokeshire on 6 February 1861 and, upon his own death in 1891, the title was passed to his son Hugh Owen.
Other activities
In 1830, Owen was made Lieutenant-ColonelCommandant of the Pembrokeshire militia, and later, between 1872 and 1875, was a Colonel of the Pembrokeshire artillery militia. From 1872 to his death, he was also aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria. He was also at some point Deputy Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire. Owen died at Barnes in September 1891 aged 87. The passing years had erased some of the bitterness of political contests and the Pembrokeshire Herald, which was so hostile to him in the 1860s, described him as "accomplished, courteous and genial" and "in all respects a gentleman."
