File NLW MS 5849B - Letters of T. E. Ellis, &c.

Thomas Edward (Tom) Ellis (1859-1899), politician, was Liberal MP for Merioneth, 1886-1899, and chief Liberal whip, 1894-1895. He was born at Cynlas, Cefnddwysarn, Llanfor, Merionethshire, and educated in Llandderfel and Bala, before going to University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1875-1879. He joined New College, Oxford, in 1880, graduating in 1884 with a BA in Modern History, adding an MA in 1897. He became the private secretary of John Brunner, MP for Northwich, Cheshire, and in August 1886 he was elected as Liberal MP for Merioneth. By 1892, he was second whip in Gladstone's Liberal Government, and was chief Liberal whip, 1894-1895, under Lord Rosebery. He vigorously promoted Welsh interests in Parliament, advocating the disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales, the creation of a Welsh assembly and national library, and pushing through the establishment of a Royal Commission on land in Wales and Monmouthshire. At one time he was a prominent member of the Cymru Fydd movement. He had a great influence on educational administration in Wales. He contributed to the passing of the Welsh Intermediate and Technical Education Act 1889, and was a member the University of Wales Court and the Central Welsh Board. He was the founder of the University of Wales' Old Students' Association. He married Annie Jane Davies (1873-1942) of Cwrt-mawr, Llangeitho, Cardiganshire, in 1898. However, his health was fragile, and he died on 5 April 1899, while in Cannes, France, and was buried at Cefnddwysarn. His only son, T. I. Ellis, was born eight months later. A volume entitled Speeches and Addresses was published by Hughes and Son, Wrexham, in 1912. His widow subsequently married the Rev. Peter Hughes Griffiths (1871-1937).

David Robert Daniel (1859-1931), political commentator, was born at Ty'n-y-bryn, Llandderfel, Merionethshire, on 6th May 1859, son of Robert Daniel and Jane Roberts. He was educated at the grammar school and the Independent College, Bala, and became Assistant Organiser in North Wales for the United Kingdom Alliance in 1887. He was appointed Secretary of the North Wales Quarrymen's Union in 1896, and from 1889 was an alderman for the Caernarvonshire County Council. He later joined the Civil Service, and became Secretary of the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion and later, Assistant Secretary to the Welsh Church Commissioners. He was a close friend of Thomas Edward Ellis and became a figure in the Welsh political scene during the late 19th century. He also contributed various articles to the Welsh newspapers, including recollections of O. M. Edwards in Cymru, 1921 and a history about the early life of T. E. Ellis. He died in 1931 and was buried at Cefnddwysarn.