Thomas John Morgan (22 April 1907 – 9 December 1986), better known as T. J. Morgan, was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

academic. He was Professor of Welsh at Swansea University from 1961 to 1975.

Life

Morgan was born at "Ynys-y-mwn", in the village of

Glais Glais is a semi-rural village in Swansea, South Wales. ''Nant-y-Pal'' is a stream running through the middle of Glais. It divides the village into two electoral wards: to the north of the stream, Glais is under the Clydach Electoral Ward; to th ...

, near

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

, and he studied

at Swansea University. In 1926, he met his future wife, Huana Rees, at the

National Eisteddfod of Wales The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh language, Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Eur ...

. The couple wed in 1935. They had two sons: the politician

Rhodri Morgan Hywel Rhodri Morgan (29 September 1939 – 17 May 2017) was a Welsh Labour politician who was the First Minister of Wales and the Leader of Welsh Labour from 2000 to 2009. He was also the Assembly Member for Cardiff West from 1999 to 2011 and t ...

(1939–2017) and historian Prys Morgan (b. 1937). Kate Roberts wrote ''Traed mewn cyffion (Feet in Chains)'' which was awarded a prize at the National Eisteddford in Neath in 1934. Roberts won the prize jointly with

Grace Wynne Griffith Grace Wynne Griffith born Grace Roberts (February 1888 – 1 May 1963) was a Welsh novelist writing in Welsh. She won a joint prize at the National Eisteddford in 1934. Life Griffith was born in Newborough in February 1888 and educated at ...

and her novel ''Creigiau Milgwyn''. However it was alleged that ''Creigiau Milgwyn'' was unworthy of the prize according to Morgan. A Welsh speaker, he was not a nationalist and opposed

Saunders Lewis Saunders Lewis (born John Saunders Lewis) (15 October 1893 – 1 September 1985) was a Welsh politician, poet, dramatist, Medievalist, and literary critic. He was a prominent Welsh nationalist, supporter of Welsh independence and was a co-found ...

. ''Y Treigladau a'u Cystrawen'', published in 1952, is generally considered his most important academic work. Morgan was Professor of

at Swansea University from 1961 to 1975. He died suddenly at home in Bishopston, Gower, and was buried at Coed Gwilym cemetery in Swansea.

Works

*''Dal Llygoden Ac Ysgrifau Eraill'' (1937) *''Y Treigladau a’u Cystrawen ("The Mutations and their Syntax")'' (1952) *''Peasant Culture'' (1962) *''Amryw Flawd'' (1966) *''Dydd y Farn Ac Ysgrifau Eraill'' (1969) *''W.J. Gruffydd'' (1970) *''Hirfelyn Tesog'' (1971)

References

1907 births 1986 deaths People from Swansea Welsh scholars and academics Welsh-speaking academics {{Wales-academic-bio-stub