Huw Robert Jones (1894 – August 1930), known as H. R. Jones, was a Welsh nationalist politician.

Jones was born in Ebenezer in Caernarfonshire,[1] where he worked in the quarries from the age of thirteen,[2] and later as a travelling grocery salesman.[3] He led a campaign to rename his home village as "Deiniolen", which was successful.[1] Always a strong proponent of home rule for Wales, in 1924 he founded the Welsh Home Rule Army and,[1] as one of its three most prominent leaders, he attended the founding meeting of Plaid Cymru.[4] Saunders Lewis referred to Jones as the only Welsh nationalist who "would have received a post from Michael Collins".[5]: 284 

Plaid was founded in a hotel in Pwllheli, while the National Eisteddfod was underway.[4] Jones was chosen as its first general secretary, but the other party founders convinced him to avoid non-violent direct action in their cause.[6] In 1928, he stood for election to the county council in Upper Deiniolen, the party's only candidate, but he was not elected.[7]

Although popular with party members, he was not regarded as an effective organiser.[8] He contracted tuberculosis and in 1928, he became aware that he did not have long to live. He was compelled to scale back his role until his death in 1930.[2][8]

After Jones' death, Gwenallt composed "Breuddwyd y Bardd" in his honour.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 John Davies et al, The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales, p.424
  2. 1 2 3 Meic Stephens, The New Companion to the Literature of Wales, p.382
  3. ↑ D. Hywel Davies, The Welsh Nationalist Party, 1925-1945, pp.26, 44
  4. 1 2 D. Hywel Davies, The Welsh Nationalist Party, 1925-1945, p.61
  5. ↑ De Barra, Caoimhín (2018). The Coming of the Celts, AD 1860: Celtic Nationalism in Ireland and Wales. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN 9780268103378.
  6. ↑ D. Hywel Davies, The Welsh Nationalist Party, 1925-1945, p.69
  7. ↑ "Forming Plaid Cymru", National Library of Wales Journal (1983)
  8. 1 2 D. Hywel Davies, The Welsh Nationalist Party, 1925-1945, p.212
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