David Eirwyn Morgan ( ; 23 April 1918 – 30 August 1982) was a minister, journalist and

Welsh nationalist Welsh nationalism () emphasises and celebrates the distinctiveness of Culture of Wales, Welsh culture and Wales as a nation or country. Welsh nationalism may also include calls for further autonomy or self-determination, which includes Welsh de ...

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. Born in Pen-y-groes in

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire (; or informally ') is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. ...

, Morgan began preaching at an early age in the

Baptist Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...

chapel in nearby Saron, in the parish of Llandybie. He studied at the Amman Valley Grammar School in

Ammanford Ammanford ( ) is a town and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census the community had a population of 5,445, and the wider built up area had a population of 8,285. Ammanford is se ...

, where he befriended David Rees Griffiths, the school caretaker, who introduced him to Welsh literature. Morgan won a scholarship to the University College of Swansea and graduated with a degree in Welsh, then studied theology at the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, and finally the Baptist College in London. He was subsequently ordained and attached to a parish in Pisgah. During this time, he became active in

Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...

, and stood unsuccessfully for the party in

Llanelli ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire and the Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is on the estuary of the River Loughor and is the largest town in the Principal areas of Wales, ...

at the

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash, Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 ...

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the Uni ...

1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...

and 1959 general elections. He also edited the party newspaper, ''Y Ddraig Goch''. In 1956, he moved to minister in

Llandudno Llandudno (, ) is a seaside resort, town and community (Wales), community in Conwy County Borough, Wales, located on the Creuddyn peninsula, which protrudes into the Irish Sea. In the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 UK census, the community � ...

, then in 1960 he won a

Fulbright Scholarship The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States cultural exchange programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people ...

to the New York Union Seminary. However, he left early due to ill health, and returned to Llandudno. In 1967, he became a tutor in theology at the

University College Bangor Bangor University () is a public research university in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. It was established by Royal Charter in 1885 as the University College of North Wales (UCNW; ), and in 1893 became one of the founding institutions of the federal ...

, and from 1971 until 1980, he served as principal of its Baptist College. Morgan was also an active

pacifist Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence. The word ''pacifism'' was coined by the French peace campaigner Émile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress in Glasgow in 1901. A related term is ''a ...

, and served as secretary of the Welsh Peace Society. He was the first secretary of the Welsh Hymn Society. He was also active in journalism; from 1960 to 1972, he was the editor of ''

Seren Cymru Seren Cymru was a Welsh language newspaper. It was first published in Carmarthen in 1851 by Samuel Evans, but failed. It was more successful when it was re-established in 1856, with J. Emlyn Jones as editor. It contained local, national, and int ...

'', the newspaper of the Welsh Baptists, and from 1975 until 1977, he edited ''

Seren Gomer ''Seren Gomer'' was the first Welsh-language weekly newspaper. The first number was published in 1814 in Swansea by the local Baptists, Baptist minister and writer Joseph Harris (Gomer). Publishing history The weekly was intended to cover news ...

''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, David Eirwyn 1918 births 1982 deaths Alumni of Swansea University Baptist pacifists People from Carmarthenshire Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidates 20th-century Welsh Baptist ministers Welsh Christian pacifists Welsh-speaking clergy Welsh-speaking journalists Welsh-speaking politicians