Griffith George (1847–1910) was a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

politician, businessman and a prominent figure in the cultural and religious of

Aberdare Aberdare ( ; cy, Aberdâr) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tyd ...

and

Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeName = Chapman code , Replace = * West Glamorgan * Mid Glamorgan * South Glamorgan , Motto ...

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. George was born in

Llangoedmor Llangoedmor is a village 2 miles east of Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales. It is also the name of a community Council which encompasses Llechryd, Pant-gwyn, Ceredigion, and Neuadd Wilym. Llangoedmor ( cy, the church the great wood), is derived fr ...

, near Cardigan, but moved at a young age to Pontseli, near

Newcastle Emlyn Newcastle Emlyn ( cy, Castellnewydd Emlyn) is a town on the River Teifi, straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in West Wales. It is also a community entirely within Carmarthenshire, bordered by those of Llangeler and Cenarth ...

. One of his contemporaries was Herber Evans, a prominent

Calvinistic Methodist Calvinistic Methodists were born out of the 18th-century Welsh Methodist revival and survive as a body of Christians now forming the Presbyterian Church of Wales. Calvinistic Methodism became a major denomination in Wales, growing rapidly in the 1 ...

minister. He entered the drapery trade and spent a number of years in London. He married Rachel Rees, of Castell Gorwyn,

Trelech Trelech (Welsh: ''Tre-lech'') is a village in the parish of Tre-lech a'r Betws, Carmarthenshire, in south-west Wales. It is also the name of the community. Trelech is located some 10 miles north-west of Carmarthen and 6.5 miles south of Newcastle ...

, Carmarthenshire and they had a son and two daughters. The son became a mining engineer in India. In 1876, George moved to

Trecynon Trecynon is a village near Aberdare situated in the Cynon Valley, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It dates from the early nineteenth century and developed as a result of the opening of the Aberdare Ironworks at Llwydcoed in 1800. Etymology The s ...

where he opened a drapery business, and in 1886 he took over the larger concern of Henry Lewis, known as the Beehive, in Victoria Square,

. He retired from business in 1900. George became active in local

politics, was a founder member of the Aberdare Liberal Club and was also active in the South Wales Liberal Association. In 1894 George was elected as one of the first members of the

Aberdare Urban District Council Aberdare Urban District Council was a local authority in Aberdare, Wales. History It was created in 1894 as a result of the 1894 Local Government of England and Wales Act and the 1894 Aberdare Urban District Council election saw the election of ...

and he became an advocate of free libraries. Controversy over this issue, however, led to his defeat in 1899. In 1901 George was invited, following a public meeting, to contest the Gadlys ward in the

Glamorgan County Council Glamorgan County Council was established in 1889 together with the administrative county of Glamorganshire under the Local Government Act 1888. The first elections to the council were held in January 1889. The council was abolished under the Local ...

elections. He refused, but stood three years later, attracting some criticism for opposing the Labour candidate, Evan Parker. He became a member of the County Education Committee and a governor of the Aberdare County School. George was a deacon and leading member of Heolyfelin Chapel, Aberdare. His home in later life was at The Laurels, Trecynon. George had many literary interests and was known by the pseudonym Gruffydd Dyfed, and a volume of his literary works was published in 1906. George died in

Tenerife Tenerife (; ; formerly spelled ''Teneriffe'') is the largest and most populous island of the Canary Islands. It is home to 43% of the total population of the archipelago. With a land area of and a population of 978,100 inhabitants as of Janu ...

where he was spending the winter for health reasons, and was buried on the island.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Griffith Members of Glamorgan County Council 1847 births 1910 deaths People from Aberdare