Abi Williams

Abi Williams (died 1963) was a Welsh nationalist who briefly served as the President of Plaid Cymru.

A member of the Independent Labour Party, Williams was known for his oratory.^[1] In 1936, he left the ILP and joined Plaid Cymru,^[2] and as a result was victimised and dismissed from his job, surveying roads in Flintshire; he eventually received compensation for the dismissal.^[3]

Despite not being a prominent figure in Plaid, he was elected President in 1943.^[1]^[3] He was also selected as the party's prospective candidate for Merioneth.^[3] However, he was unable to fulfil either responsibility, as he suffered with what was described as a "nervous condition", and the leadership of the party was in practice covered by his Vice President, Gwynfor Evans.^[4]

Evans replaced Williams as the candidate for Merioneth in the 1945 general election, and replaced him as party President later in the year.^[3]

Williams died early in 1963.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b Gwynfor Evans, For the Sake of Wales, pp. 60, 138
^ "Abi Williams – arweinydd a gweithiwr diflino", Welsh Nation, March 1963
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Alan Butt Philip, The Welsh Question: Nationalism in Welsh Politics, 1945–1970, p.73
^ "Evans, Gwynfor Richard", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Party political offices
Preceded by John Edward Daniel	President of Plaid Cymru 1943–1945	Succeeded by Gwynfor Evans

Plaid Cymru

Leadership
Leaders	Ieuan Wyn Jones (2006–2012) Leanne Wood (2012–2018) Adam Price (2018–2023) Llyr Gruffydd (acting, 2023) Rhun ap Iorwerth (2023–present)
Senedd Group Leaders party leader since 2006	Dafydd Wigley (1999–2000) Ieuan Wyn Jones (2000–2012) Leanne Wood (2012–2018) Adam Price (2018–2023) Llyr Gruffydd (acting, 2023) Rhun ap Iorwerth (2023–present)
Presidents party leader pre-2003 abolished 2013	Lewis Valentine (1925–1926) Saunders Lewis (1926–1939) John Edward Daniel (1939–1943) Abi Williams (1943–1945) Gwynfor Evans (1945–1981) Dafydd Wigley (1981–1984) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (1984–1991) Dafydd Wigley (1991–2000) Ieuan Wyn Jones (2000–2003) Dafydd Iwan (2003–2010) Jill Evans (2010–2013)
Vice-Presidents abolished 2013	Saunders Lewis (1925–1926) John Edward Daniel (1931–1939) Gwynfor Evans (1943–1945) Waldo Williams R. E. Holland W. R. P. George R. Tudur Jones (1957–1962) Wynne Samuel (1962–1964) Chris Rees (1964–1966) Edward Millward (1966–1968) Phil Williams (1968–1970) Robyn Léwis (1970–1976) Phil Williams (1976–1978) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (1979–1981) Phil Williams (1982–1984) Dafydd Iwan (1984–2003) Jill Evans (2003–2010) Chris Franks (2010–2013)
Chairs	Chris Rees (1966–1970) Phil Williams (1970–1976) Eurfyl ap Gwilym (1976–1980) Ieuan Wyn Jones (1980–1982) Dafydd Iwan (1982–1984) Syd Morgan (1984–1990) Ieuan Wyn Jones (1990–1992) John Dixon (1992–1994) Jill Evans (1994–1996) Marc Phillips (1996–2000) Elin Jones (2000–2002) John Dixon (2002–2010) Gwenllian Lansdown (2010–2011) Rhuanedd Richards (2011–2012) Helen Mary Jones (2012–2013) Dafydd Trystan Davies (2013–2018) Alun Ffred Jones (2018–present)
Honorary Presidents	Gwynfor Evans (1982–2005) Dafydd Wigley (2005–present)
Leadership elections	1945 1981 1984 1991 2000 2003 2012 2018 2023

Parliamentarians

European Parliament (MEPs)

Eurig Wyn (1999–2004)
Jill Evans (1999–2020)

Senedd (MSs)
Welsh Assembly (AMs)

Former	Rhys ab Owen Mohammad Asghar Cynog Dafis Geraint Davies Jocelyn Davies Dafydd Elis-Thomas Nerys Evans Chris Franks Brian Hancock Pauline Jarman Alun Jones Gareth Jones Helen Mary Jones Steffan Lewis David Lloyd Neil McEvoy Janet Ryder Bethan Sayed Owen Thomas Rhodri Thomas Simon Thomas Lindsay Whittle Dafydd Wigley Phil Williams Leanne Wood Ieuan Wyn Jones
Current	Mabon ap Gwynfor Cefin Campbell Luke Fletcher Heledd Fychan Peredur Owen Griffiths Llyr Gruffydd Siân Gwenllian Delyth Jewell Elin Jones Rhun ap Iorwerth Adam Price Sioned Williams

British Parliament

House of Commons (MPs)

Former	Cynog Dafis (1992–2000) Jonathan Edwards (2010–2020, 2022) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (1974–1992) Gwynfor Evans (1966–1970, 1974–1979) Ieuan Wyn Jones (1987–2001) Elfyn Llwyd (1992–2015) Adam Price (2001–2010) Simon Thomas (2000–2005) Dafydd Wigley (1974–2001)
Current	Ben Lake Liz Saville Roberts Hywel Williams

House of Lords (Peers)

Organisation

History

Founders

Byddin Ymreolwyr Cymru (Welsh Home Rule Army)	Moses Gruffydd Huw Robert Jones Lewis Valentine
Y Mudiad Cymreig (Welsh Movement)	Fred Jones Saunders Lewis David Edmund Williams
Others	Ambrose Bebb David James Davies D. J. Williams