John Edward Daniel (1902–1962) was a Welsh

theologian Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of ...

and college lecturer who became chairman of the Welsh political party

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 ...

Life

Daniel was born in Bangor,

Gwynedd Gwynedd () is a county in the north-west of Wales. It borders Anglesey across the Menai Strait to the north, Conwy, Denbighshire, and Powys to the east, Ceredigion over the Dyfi estuary to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. The ci ...

, on 26 June 1902 and was educated at the Friars School, Bangor. He then won a scholarship to the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

, matriculating as a member of

Jesus College, Oxford Jesus College (in full: Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship ...

, in 1919. He obtained a first-class degree in '' literae humaniores'' in 1923 and a further first-class degree in divinity in 1925. He was then appointed to a

fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

ship at the Bala-Bangor Theological College, and became a professor on 28 July 1926, following the death of Thomas Rees. He taught Christian doctrine and the

philosophy of religion Philosophy of religion is "the philosophical examination of the central themes and concepts involved in religious traditions". Philosophical discussions on such topics date from ancient times, and appear in the earliest known Text (literary theo ...

and was regarded as one of the most able theologians of his generation. However, his publications were few: ' (1933) and some journal articles. Although he was never ordained, he was an able preacher. He was a prominent

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 ...

and member of

. He contributed to its newspaper (') and stood unsuccessfully as a candidate in three general elections and a by-election in 1945. He was vice-chairman from 1931 to 1935, and succeeded

Saunders Lewis Saunders Lewis (born John Saunders Lewis; 15 October 1893 – 1 September 1985) was a Welsh politician, poet, dramatist, Medievalist, and literary critic. Born into a Welsh-speaking ministerial family in Greater Liverpool, Lewis studied in a p ...

as chairman in 1939 (holding the position until August 1943). In 1946, Daniel was appointed as an inspector of schools, with special responsibility for classics and religious education. He died as the result of a road accident near Halkyn,

Flintshire Flintshire () is a county in the north-east of Wales. It borders the Irish Sea to the north, the Dee Estuary to the north-east, the English county of Cheshire to the east, Wrexham County Borough to the south, and Denbighshire to the west. ...

, on 11 February 1962.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daniel, John Edward 1902 births 1962 deaths People from Bangor, Gwynedd People educated at Friars School, Bangor Leaders of Plaid Cymru Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford 20th-century Welsh theologians 20th-century Welsh writers