Cymru Fydd
Encyclopedia
The Cymru Fydd movement was founded in 1886 by some of the London
Welsh
, including J. E. Lloyd, O. M. Edwards, T. E. Ellis
(leader, MP
for Merioneth
, 1886-1899), Beriah Gwynfe Evans
and Alfred Thomas
. Initially it was a purely London-based society, later expanding to cities in England
with a large Welsh population. From 1892 branches were organised in Wales itself, the first being formed at Barry by W. Llewelyn Williams
.
Its main objective was to gain self-government for Wales
. The movement lost some of its impetus following the withdrawal of T. E. Ellis to join the Government in 1892, after which leadership of Cymru Fydd was taken over by David Lloyd George
and Herbert Lewis
(MP for Flint Boroughs
). Cymru Fydd was re-launched on a narrower, more political basis.
After an initial period of success in 1894-5, in which time it merged with the North Wales Liberal Federation (18 April 1895) to form the Welsh National Federation, it met with fierce opposition from the South Wales Liberal Federation, led by the Federation President, David Alfred Thomas (MP for Merthyr Tydfil
1889-1910).
On 16 January 1896, the proposal to merge the South Wales Liberal Federation with the Welsh National Federation was put to the Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the South Wales Liberal Federation, held at Newport, Monmouthshire. Lloyd George
was howled down and refused permission to speak. After Robert Bird, a senior Cardiff
Alderman
declared his determination to resist 'the domination of Welsh ideas', the merger proposal was defeated. Cymru Fydd collapsed soon afterwards. The effect of this collapse was particularly severe on the Women's Liberal Associations, all but 15 of which collapsed. Lloyd George switched his attention to British matters, next coming to prominence as an opponent of the Boer War
.
The movement was supported by the magazine 'Young Wales', edited by John Hugh Edwards
between 1895 and its collapse in 1896. An earlier magazine 'Cymru Fydd' ceased publication in 1891.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, including J. E. Lloyd, O. M. Edwards, T. E. Ellis
T. E. Ellis
Thomas Edward Ellis , usually known as T. E. Ellis, was a Welsh politician who was the leader of Cymru Fydd, a movement aimed at gaining home rule for Wales.-Life:...
(leader, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Merioneth
Merioneth (UK Parliament constituency)
Merioneth, sometimes called Merionethshire, was a constituency in North Wales established in 1542, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English Parliament, and later to the Parliament of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom...
, 1886-1899), Beriah Gwynfe Evans
Beriah Gwynfe Evans
Beriah Gwynfe Evans , was a journalist, Congregationalist, dramatist, Liberal politician and Welsh Nationalist.- Early life :...
and Alfred Thomas
Alfred Thomas, 1st Baron Pontypridd
Alfred Thomas, 1st Baron Pontypridd , was a Welsh Liberal Party politician.-Background and education:Born in Penylan, Cardiff, Wales, Thomas was educated at Weston School, near Bath...
. Initially it was a purely London-based society, later expanding to cities in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with a large Welsh population. From 1892 branches were organised in Wales itself, the first being formed at Barry by W. Llewelyn Williams
W. Llewelyn Williams
W. Llewelyn Williams , was a Welsh journalist, lawyer and Liberal Party politician.He was born at Brownhill Llansadwrn, Towy Valley, Carmarthenshire; a memorial plaque was erected in front of the house in 1938...
.
Its main objective was to gain self-government for Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The movement lost some of its impetus following the withdrawal of T. E. Ellis to join the Government in 1892, after which leadership of Cymru Fydd was taken over by David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
and Herbert Lewis
Herbert Lewis
Sir John Herbert Lewis GBE, PC was a British Liberal politician.-Background and education:Born at Mostyn Quay, Flintshire, Lewis was one of five sons of Enoch Lewis and Elizabeth Roberts. He was educated at McGill University and Exeter College, Oxford.-Political career:Lewis was the first Chairman...
(MP for Flint Boroughs
Flint Boroughs (UK Parliament constituency)
Flint Boroughs was a parliamentary constituency in north-east Wales which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors, from 1542 until it was abolished for the 1918 general election.-Boundaries:From its first known general...
). Cymru Fydd was re-launched on a narrower, more political basis.
After an initial period of success in 1894-5, in which time it merged with the North Wales Liberal Federation (18 April 1895) to form the Welsh National Federation, it met with fierce opposition from the South Wales Liberal Federation, led by the Federation President, David Alfred Thomas (MP for Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil (UK Parliament constituency)
Merthyr Tydfil was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Merthyr Tydfil in Glamorgan. From 1832 to 1868 it returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and in 1868 this was increased to two members...
1889-1910).
On 16 January 1896, the proposal to merge the South Wales Liberal Federation with the Welsh National Federation was put to the Annual General Meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
(AGM) of the South Wales Liberal Federation, held at Newport, Monmouthshire. Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
was howled down and refused permission to speak. After Robert Bird, a senior Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
declared his determination to resist 'the domination of Welsh ideas', the merger proposal was defeated. Cymru Fydd collapsed soon afterwards. The effect of this collapse was particularly severe on the Women's Liberal Associations, all but 15 of which collapsed. Lloyd George switched his attention to British matters, next coming to prominence as an opponent of the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
The movement was supported by the magazine 'Young Wales', edited by John Hugh Edwards
John Hugh Edwards
Hugh Edwards was a British Liberal Party politician.Aberystwyth-born Edwards was an author, having written a history of Wales and three biographies of David Lloyd George. He was a governor of University College Aberystwyth and University College Cardiff...
between 1895 and its collapse in 1896. An earlier magazine 'Cymru Fydd' ceased publication in 1891.