Hugh Owen
Encyclopedia
Sir Hugh Owen was a significant Welsh
educator.
Hugh Owen was one of the pioneers of higher education in Wales.
He was born on Anglesey in 1804 and moved to London at the age of 21 to work as a solicitors clerk. He moved to work for the Poor Law Commission in 1836, eventually becoming Chief Clerk in 1853.
He rendered inestimable services to the cause of education, and more especially to the University College of Wales (Aberystwyth), of which he was chief founder.
He became involved in the British and foreign Schools in London and in 1843 published a letter to the people of Wales, advocating the need to establish British and Foreign Schools in Wales. As a non-conformist he supported the idea of non-denominational day schools in Wales. In 1843 he was instrumental in the appointing of an agent for the British and Foreign schools Society in North Wales and then in South Wales at a later date.
In 1846 he became honorary secretary of the Cambrian Educational Society and published another letter advocating the establishment of British Schools in Wales. His campaign led to the establishment of a number of Schools in Wales but this highlighted another problem - a shortage of trained teachers.
In 1856 he was one of the founder member of a movement to establish the Normal College at Bangor for teacher training. His vision included another teacher training college in South Wales; one specifically for women in Swansea and a university for Wales. In 1863 a committee was formed to raise the funds to establish a University for Wales in Aberystwyth. In 1867 the Committee were able to buy the old Castle Hotel cheaply and by 1872 the University opened. It was not financially stable and Hugh Owen retired so that he could focus on raising funds to clear the debt and raise more money to secure the future of the University. This he did.
Hugh Owen recognised the need to improve the education in intermediate schools so that there were suitably qualified entrants for the new University. At the National Eisteddfod in Caernarfon in 1880, Hugh Owen read a paper to members of the Society of Cymmrodorion on 'Intermediate Education in Ireland and Secondary Education in Wales'. This eventually led to the passing of a new law; The Welsh Intermediate Education Act of 1889.
His life was devoted to the service of his country, not only in long and successful official labours, but also in various voluntary efforts. He was knighted in August 1881 but died 3 months later.
The main library at Aberystwyth University is named after Hugh Owen, as is Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
, a secondary school
in Caernarfon
('ysgol' is the Welsh
word for school
).
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...
educator.
Hugh Owen was one of the pioneers of higher education in Wales.
He was born on Anglesey in 1804 and moved to London at the age of 21 to work as a solicitors clerk. He moved to work for the Poor Law Commission in 1836, eventually becoming Chief Clerk in 1853.
He rendered inestimable services to the cause of education, and more especially to the University College of Wales (Aberystwyth), of which he was chief founder.
He became involved in the British and foreign Schools in London and in 1843 published a letter to the people of Wales, advocating the need to establish British and Foreign Schools in Wales. As a non-conformist he supported the idea of non-denominational day schools in Wales. In 1843 he was instrumental in the appointing of an agent for the British and Foreign schools Society in North Wales and then in South Wales at a later date.
In 1846 he became honorary secretary of the Cambrian Educational Society and published another letter advocating the establishment of British Schools in Wales. His campaign led to the establishment of a number of Schools in Wales but this highlighted another problem - a shortage of trained teachers.
In 1856 he was one of the founder member of a movement to establish the Normal College at Bangor for teacher training. His vision included another teacher training college in South Wales; one specifically for women in Swansea and a university for Wales. In 1863 a committee was formed to raise the funds to establish a University for Wales in Aberystwyth. In 1867 the Committee were able to buy the old Castle Hotel cheaply and by 1872 the University opened. It was not financially stable and Hugh Owen retired so that he could focus on raising funds to clear the debt and raise more money to secure the future of the University. This he did.
Hugh Owen recognised the need to improve the education in intermediate schools so that there were suitably qualified entrants for the new University. At the National Eisteddfod in Caernarfon in 1880, Hugh Owen read a paper to members of the Society of Cymmrodorion on 'Intermediate Education in Ireland and Secondary Education in Wales'. This eventually led to the passing of a new law; The Welsh Intermediate Education Act of 1889.
His life was devoted to the service of his country, not only in long and successful official labours, but also in various voluntary efforts. He was knighted in August 1881 but died 3 months later.
The main library at Aberystwyth University is named after Hugh Owen, as is Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen is a secondary school located in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, North Wales. The school was opened in 1894 and is named after the educator Sir Hugh Owen....
, a secondary school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
in Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
('ysgol' is the Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
word for school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
).