John Jones of Ystrad

John Jones "of Ystrad" (15 September 1777 – 10 November 1842), was a Welsh politician, MP for Carmarthen from 1821 to 1832.

He was born in King Street, Carmarthen, the son of a solicitor. Educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, he went on to Lincoln's Inn to qualify as a barrister. His work on the South Wales circuit took him back to his home area, and he stood as a Conservative at the election of 1812. In 1815, he replaced Sir Thomas Picton as MP for Pembroke Boroughs. In 1818 he was again defeated at Carmarthen, but eventually won the seat three years later.

Although regarded as a Tory in politics, Jones's main pre-occuption was local politics and after his election to Parliament he concentrated much of his energy upon having a controlling interest in the Carmarthen Town Council.[1]

When Reform legislation was introduced in the House of Commons in 1831, Jones voted against the second reading on 22 March.[2] At the subsequent General Election, he was injured in rioting at Carmarthen. The voting was called off, and the election for the constituency had to be re-run in August, when Jones retained the seat. Later that year he fought a duel with another politician, Robert Fulke Greville.

Despite eventually voting in favour of the Reform Bill, he was defeated in the 1832 general election. From 1837 to 1841 he was MP for Carmarthenshire. His efforts to have the salt tax abolished earned him the nickname "Jones yr Halen" ("Jones the Salt").