John Griffith (journalist)

John Griffith was born in Bodgwilym, Wales in 1821 to Griffith Griffith and Maria (née Roberts).[1] He grew up in Barmouth, Merionethshire where he received an elementary education.[1] Around 1836 he was apprenticed to William Owen; 'Grocer, Draper, and Druggist', with whom he remained until 1840.[1] In 1847 Griffith was appointed to Sir Hugh Owen MP in connection with his work as secretary of the Welsh Education Society and went to live in London.[1] They parted in 1849 and Griffith decided to remain in London where he opened a grocers, first in Greenwich and then in Walworth.[1]

Griffith began contributing articles to the monthly Y Cronicl (The Chronicle) journal, established by his uncle Samuel Roberts (Llanbrynmair). He later joined the staff of Baner ac Amserau Cymru, the most popular Welsh-language newspaper at the time.[2] He later became the London correspondent to the paper and wrote under the known at his pen name "Y Gohebydd" ("The Correspondent").[3] Like the paper's owner, Thomas Gee, Griffith was a keen libertarian and championed radical causes back in his homeland, including the defence of Nonconformist causes.[3] He was one of those responsible for reviving the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion in 1873. He also played his part in establishing the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

• Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Menna, Baines; Lynch, Peredur I.; et al., eds. (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.