Thomas Gee
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gee was a Welsh
Nonconformist preacher, journalist and publisher.
Gee was born at Denbigh
. At the age of fourteen he went into his father's printing office, but continued to attend the grammar school in the afternoons.
In 1837 he went to London
to improve his knowledge of printing, and on his return to Wales
in the following year, he threw himself into literary, educational and religious work. Among his publications were the well-known quarterly magazine
Y Traethodydd
("The Essayist"), Y Gwyddoniadur Cymreig ("Encyclopaedia Cambrensis"), and Dr. Silvan Evans; English-Welsh Dictionary (1868), but his greatest achievement in this field was the newspaper Baner Cymru ("The Banner of Wales"), founded in 1857 and amalgamated with Yr Amserau ("The Times") two years later as Baner ac Amserau Cymru.
This paper soon became regarded as an oracle in Wales, and played a great part in promoting the nationalist
and home rule
movement in the country. In educational matters he waged a long and successful struggle on behalf of undenominational schools and for the establishment of the intermediate school system. He was an enthusiastic advocate of church disestablishment, and had a historic newspaper duel with Dr John Owen
(afterwards Bishop of St David's
) on this question. The Eisteddfod found in him a thorough friend and a wise counsellor. His commanding presence, mastery of diction, and resonant voice made him an effective platform speaker. He was ordained to the Calvinistic Methodist ministry, at Bala
in 1847, and gave his time and talents ungrudgingly to Sunday school
and temperance
work. Throughout his life he believed in the itinerant unpaid ministry rather than in the settled pastorate. When he died in 1898, his funeral was the most imposing ever seen in North 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...
Nonconformist preacher, journalist and publisher.
Gee was born at Denbigh
Denbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
. At the age of fourteen he went into his father's printing office, but continued to attend the grammar school in the afternoons.
In 1837 he went to 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...
to improve his knowledge of printing, and on his return to 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...
in the following year, he threw himself into literary, educational and religious work. Among his publications were the well-known quarterly magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
Y Traethodydd
Y Traethodydd
Y Traethodydd is a quarterly cultural magazine published in the Welsh language covering historical, literary and theological topics. The journal was originally published in 1845 on behalf of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church...
("The Essayist"), Y Gwyddoniadur Cymreig ("Encyclopaedia Cambrensis"), and Dr. Silvan Evans; English-Welsh Dictionary (1868), but his greatest achievement in this field was the newspaper Baner Cymru ("The Banner of Wales"), founded in 1857 and amalgamated with Yr Amserau ("The Times") two years later as Baner ac Amserau Cymru.
This paper soon became regarded as an oracle in Wales, and played a great part in promoting the nationalist
Welsh nationalism
Welsh nationalism emphasises the distinctiveness of Welsh language, culture, and history, and calls for more self-determination for Wales, which may include more Devolved powers for the Welsh Assembly or full independence from the United Kingdom.-Conquest:...
and home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
movement in the country. In educational matters he waged a long and successful struggle on behalf of undenominational schools and for the establishment of the intermediate school system. He was an enthusiastic advocate of church disestablishment, and had a historic newspaper duel with Dr John Owen
John Owen (bishop)
John Owen was the Professor of Welsh at the St David's College, as well as the Dean of St Asaph. He became the Bishop of St David's in 1897....
(afterwards Bishop of St David's
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
) on this question. The Eisteddfod found in him a thorough friend and a wise counsellor. His commanding presence, mastery of diction, and resonant voice made him an effective platform speaker. He was ordained to the Calvinistic Methodist ministry, at Bala
Bala, Gwynedd
Bala is a market town and community in Gwynedd, Wales, and formerly an urban district of the historic county of Merionethshire. It lies at the north end of Bala Lake , 17 miles north-east of Dolgellau, with a population of 1,980...
in 1847, and gave his time and talents ungrudgingly to Sunday school
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
and temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
work. Throughout his life he believed in the itinerant unpaid ministry rather than in the settled pastorate. When he died in 1898, his funeral was the most imposing ever seen in North Wales.
Further reading
- Ieuan Wyn JonesIeuan Wyn JonesIeuan Wyn Jones, AM is a Welsh politician, who was the Deputy First Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government from 2007 until 2011. Jones is the current leader of Plaid Cymru and Member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Ynys Môn constituency...
- Y Llinyn Arian (1998)