Joseph Harris (Gomer)

Joseph Harris (1773 – 10 August 1825) was a Welsh Baptist minister, author, and journal editor. A Welsh language poet, he took the Biblical name of Gomer as his bardic name. On 1 January 1814 he launched the first Welsh-language weekly Seren Gomer ("Star of Gomer") in Swansea.[1] Gomer was born on a farm in Wolf's Castle, Pembrokeshire, where a plaque was unveiled in his memory, making the 200th anniversary of the launch of Seren Gomer.[2] Gomer himself became a preacher during the religious revival of 1795. He married Martha Symons, and took on Back Street chapel. One of his best-known works, Cofiant Ieuan Ddu, was a biography of his son, John Ryland Harris, who worked as a typesetter for his father's printing press and died at the age of twenty.

Portrait of Joseph Harris, 'Gomer' c.1860

The name of the Gomer Press was almost certainly chosen because of its founder J.D. Lewis' high regard for Joseph Harris.[3]

Works
  • Casgliad o Hymnau (1796)
  • Yr Anghyffelyb Broffeswr (1802)
  • Bwyall Grist yng Nghoed Anghrist (1804)
  • Traethawd ar Briodol Dduwdod ein Harglwydd Iesu Grist (1816–17)
  • Cofiant Ieuan Ddu

See also

References
  1. William Joseph Rhys (1959). "Harris, Joseph (Gomer, 1773-1825), Baptist minister and man of letters". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  2. BBC News, "Plaque unveiled for 200th anniversary of Seren Gomer". 12 April 2014. Accessed 23 February 2016
  3. History of Gomer Press
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