Thomas Jones CH
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jones, CH
(27 September 1870
– 15 October 1955
) was a British
civil servant and educationalist, once described as "one of the six most important men in Europe", and also as "the King of Wales
" and "man of a thousand secrets".
Born at 100 High Street, Rhymney
, Monmouthshire, Jones was familiarly known as "T.J." He was Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet under four Prime Ministers: Lloyd George
, Andrew Bonar Law, Stanley Baldwin
and Ramsay MacDonald
. His 3-volume Whitehall Diary threw much light on politics "behind the scenes", including the Irish Treaty
, the 1926 General Strike, the meetings between Lloyd George and Adolf Hitler
, the Cliveden Set
, and so on. In 1914 he had started the magazine Welsh Outlook
to promote national social progress.
A friend of many rich and influential people including the Astors, Jones excelled at extracting money from rich people for worthwhile causes, notably adult education; he founded Coleg Harlech
in 1927, was instrumental in the founding of Newbattle Abbey College, and was secretary, trustee and chairman of the Pilgrim Trust
).
He was Chairman of Gregynog
Press throughout its existence, and also helped set up CEMA, the Committee for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (forerunner of the Arts Council
) as well as the Army Bureau of Current Affairs (designed to 'supply mental stimulant' to British troops during the Second World War).
Towards the end of his life Jones became President of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
, and was awarded the Gold Medal of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
, as well as finally agreeing to become a Companion of Honour
. He died in London
.
Jones' daughter, Eirene White
, was a Labour
politician and minister.
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
(27 September 1870
1870 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1870 to Wales and its people.-Incumbents:*Prince of Wales — The Prince Albert Edward, son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom*Princess of Wales — Alexandra of Denmark-Events:...
– 15 October 1955
1955 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1955 to Wales and its people.-Incumbents:*Prince of Wales - vacant *Princess of Wales - vacant...
) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
civil servant and educationalist, once described as "one of the six most important men in Europe", and also as "the King of 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...
" and "man of a thousand secrets".
Born at 100 High Street, Rhymney
Rhymney
Rhymney is a town and a community located in the county borough of Caerphilly in south-east Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. Along with the villages of Pontlottyn, Fochriw, Abertysswg, Deri and New Tredegar, Rhymney is designated as the 'Upper Rhymney Valley' by the local...
, Monmouthshire, Jones was familiarly known as "T.J." He was Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet under four Prime Ministers: Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, Andrew Bonar Law, Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
and Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
. His 3-volume Whitehall Diary threw much light on politics "behind the scenes", including the Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
, the 1926 General Strike, the meetings between Lloyd George and Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, the Cliveden Set
Cliveden set
The Cliveden Set were a 1930s right-wing, upper class group of prominent individuals politically influential in pre-World War II Britain, who were in the circle of Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor...
, and so on. In 1914 he had started the magazine Welsh Outlook
Welsh Outlook
Welsh Outlook was a monthly magazine published from 1914 to 1933 in Wales, articulating a political viewpoint of progressive liberalism and cultural nationalism...
to promote national social progress.
A friend of many rich and influential people including the Astors, Jones excelled at extracting money from rich people for worthwhile causes, notably adult education; he founded Coleg Harlech
Coleg Harlech
Coleg Harlech is a further education college for mature students in Harlech, Gwynedd.It is Wales' only long-term, mature students education college and was established in 1927 by Thomas Jones , Cabinet Secretary to both David Lloyd George and Stanley Baldwin, to continue the work of Workers'...
in 1927, was instrumental in the founding of Newbattle Abbey College, and was secretary, trustee and chairman of the Pilgrim Trust
Pilgrim Trust
The Pilgrim Trust is a London-based charitable trust. It was founded in 1930 by a two million pound grant by Edward Harkness, an American philanthropist. The trust's first secretary was former civil servant, Thomas Jones....
).
He was Chairman of Gregynog
Gregynog
Gregynog is a large country hall in the village of Tregynon, 4 miles northwest of Newtown in Powys, mid-Wales. Various halls have occupied the site since the twelfth century and it was the ancestral home of the Blayneys and the Traceys from the fifteenth century...
Press throughout its existence, and also helped set up CEMA, the Committee for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (forerunner of the Arts Council
Arts council
An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
) as well as the Army Bureau of Current Affairs (designed to 'supply mental stimulant' to British troops during the Second World War).
Towards the end of his life Jones became President of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
, and was awarded the Gold Medal of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 as a literary society devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, natives of Anglesey...
, as well as finally agreeing to become a Companion of Honour
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
. He died in London
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...
.
Jones' daughter, Eirene White
Eirene White
Eirene Lloyd White, Baroness White, née Jones was a British Labour politician and journalist....
, was a Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician and minister.
Works
- A Theme with Variations (1933)
- Rhymney Memories (1938)
- Cerrig Milltir (1942)
- Leeks and Daffodils (1942)
- The Native Never Returns (1946)
- Welsh Broth (1950)
- Lloyd George (1951)
- The Gregynog Press (1954)
- A Diary with Letters 1931-1950 (1954)
- Whitehall Diaries, Vol I and II (1969)
- Whitehall Diaries, Vol III (1971)