Michael D. Jones
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael D. Jones (1822-1898) was born Michael Daniel Jones in Llanuwchllyn, Merionethshire. In addition to being a Congregationalist minister and principal of a theological college, Jones was one of the founders of the Welsh Settlement in Patagonia and is regarded as one of the fathers of modern Welsh nationalism.
After training for the ministry in Carmarthen and London he emigrated and was ordained at Cincinnati. After the death of his father he returned to Wales to follow him as the principal of Bala Congregational College.
His name is closely linked with the attempt to establish a Welsh settlement in Patagonia, Argentina in the 1860s where Welsh would be the language of religion, government, trade and education.
Michael D. Jones is recognised as the first to advocate a political solution to defending Welsh identity, and therefore is seen as one of the most significant forerunners of Welsh nationalism.
