John Griffith (16 December 1821 - 13 December 1877) was a Welsh

journalist A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalis ...

based in London. He was known by his pen name "Y Gohebydd" (The Correspondent).

Early life

John Griffith was born in Bodgwilym, Wales in 1821 to Griffith Griffith and Maria (née Roberts). He grew up in

Barmouth Barmouth ( cy, Abermaw (formal); ''Y Bermo'' (colloquial)) is a seaside town and community in the county of Gwynedd, northwestern Wales, lying on the estuary of the Afon Mawddach and Cardigan Bay. Located in the historic county of Merioneths ...

Merionethshire , HQ= Dolgellau , Government= Merionethshire County Council (1889-1974) , Origin= , Status= , Start= 1284 , End= , Code= MER , CodeName= ...

where he received an elementary education. Around 1836 he was apprenticed to William Owen; 'Grocer, Draper, and Druggist', with whom he remained until 1840. In 1847 Griffith was appointed to Sir Hugh Owen MP in connection with his work as secretary of the Welsh Education Society and went to live in London. They parted in 1849 and Griffith decided to remain in London where he opened a grocers, first in Greenwich and then in Walworth.

Journalistic career

Griffith began contributing articles to the monthly ''Y Cronicl'' (''The Chronicle'') journal, established by his uncle Samuel Roberts (Llanbrynmair). He later joined the staff of ''

Baner ac Amserau Cymru The ''Baner ac Amserau Cymru'' (established in 1857) was a weekly Welsh language newspaper, distributed throughout Wales and in the Liverpool area. It contained local and national news and information. It was formed by the amalgamation of ''Baner ...

'', the most popular

Welsh-language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province, Argentina). Historically, it has al ...

newspaper at the time. He later became the London correspondent to the paper and wrote under the known at his pen name "Y Gohebydd" ("The Correspondent").Davies (2008) p. 616 Like the paper's owner,

Thomas Gee Thomas Gee (24 January 181528 September 1898), was a Welsh Nonconformist preacher, journalist and publisher. Gee was born in Denbigh, Wales. At the age of fourteen he went into his father's printing office, Gwasg Gee, but continued to atte ...

, Griffith was a keen libertarian and championed radical causes back in his homeland, including the defence of Nonconformist causes. He was one of those responsible for reviving the

Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion ( cy, Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion), often called simply the Cymmrodorion, is a London-based Welsh learned society, with membership open to all. It was first established in 1751 as a social, cultural ...

in 1873. He also played his part in establishing the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Bibliography

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffith, John People from Barmouth Welsh journalists 1821 births 1877 deaths 19th-century British journalists British male journalists 19th-century British male writers 19th-century British writers