Fonds GB 0210 ELLITH - Sir Ellis Jones Ellis-Griffith papers

Sir Ellis Jones Ellis-Griffith (1860-1926) was a barrister and an MP. He was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, but grew up in Brynsiencyn, Anglesey. After attending school in Brynsiencyn and Holt, he went to University College Aberystwyth, and graduated in law from Downing College Cambridge in 1883. In 1887, he was called to the Bar and was recorder of Birkenhead, 1907-1912. He married Mary Owen in 1892. Entering politics, he was elected Liberal MP for Anglesey in 1895. In 1912, he became chairman of the Welsh Parliamentary Party and was parliamentary secretary to the Home Office, 1912-1915. He was narrowly defeated in the 1918 election for the Anglesey constituency, but was made a Baronet in the same year. He was elected MP for Carmarthen in 1923, but resigned in 1924. He died in Swansea, 30 November 1926, and was buried in Brynsiencyn. He had two sons and a daughter, Yvonne. Only one son, Ellis Arundel, survived him to take his title.

Edward Morgan Humphreys (1882-1955) was born and brought up in Maeldref, Ardudwy Valley, Merionethshire. His family had a strong tradition of Liberalism. He became a journalist and author, after having given up his legal career due to ill-health. He continued to suffer from ill-health throughout his life. He started writing when he moved with his family to Liverpool and became newspaper correspondent, for the Barmouth Advertiser in 1904 and then the Liverpool Courier, reporting on Evan Roberts' revival meetings in Liverpool in 1905. He became the editor of Y Genedl Gymreig and The North Wales Observer in 1908. He was also editor of Y Goleuad for two terms. He resigned from Y Genedl in 1930, having returned there in 1918, to become a freelance writer. He wrote a weekly column and reviews for the Liverpool Daily Post and the Manchester Guardian, and from 1919 he used the pen-name Celt for his articles for the Liverpool Daily Post. Morgan Humphreys made many radio broadcasts, including one on the occasion of Lloyd George's funeral, and addressed many societies in Wales and England. A pioneer of the Welsh detective novel, he published a number of books, including Dirgelwch yr Anialwch (1911), Rhwng Rhyfeloedd (1924), Yr Etifedd Coll (1924), Y Llaw Gudd (1924), Dirgelwch Gallt y Ffrwd (1938), Ceulan y Llyn Du (1944), and Llofrudd yn y Chwarel (1951). Morgan Humphreys was a staunch supporter of the National Eisteddfod, adjudicating on many occasions and serving on various committees. Among his other published works are Gorse Glen (1948), a translation of Hugh Evans' Cwm Eithin; David Lloyd George (1943), and Y Wasg Gymraeg (1945). He was closely associated with many major literary figures in Wales, including T. Gwynn Jones and W. J. Griffith, Henllys Fawr. He was also close to many of the leading political figures of his time including many Liberal Members of Parliament.