Jones, Henry, 1852-1922, Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Glasgow, Scotland

Sir Henry Jones was born at Llangernyw, North Wales, on the 30 November 1852 , the third son of Elias Jones. His father was a shoemaker and Jones left school at the age of 12 to help in his father's workshop. However, he continued with his studies at home and in 1870 he qualified for admission to the Bangor Normal College. In 1873 he was appointed master of the Ironworks School in Brynamman, South Wales. He received the Dr Williams Scholarship to study at the University of Glasgow and first matriculated in 1875 .

During his time at University he took classes in Latin, Greek, Maths, Ethics, Physics, Logic, Advanced Logic and English Literature. He received many prizes and merits, including a first prize for Moral Philosophy, second prize for excellence in written examinations for Moral Philosophy and the best examination on Plato's Republic. He also received a prize for Logic and Rhetoric and won the Buchanan Prize in English Literature and joint first for the best prose essay on the decline of the drama. Upon graduating in 1879 , with an MA, he had intended to join the ministry but was was dissuaded by Edward Caird, chair of Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, and won the G A Clark fellowship to study for 4 years in Oxford, Germany and Glasgow.

In 1882 he was appointed lecturer in Philosophy in University College, Aberystwyth. In 1894 he started work as Professor of Philosophy and Political Economy in the new University College of North Wales, Bagnor. In 1891, he returned to Scotland after being appointed Professor of Logic, Rhetoric, and Metaphysics at St Andrews University. Finally in 1894 , he succeeded Edward Caird in the chair of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow University, a position he held until his death. He received honorary doctorates from St Andrews University (1895) and the University of Wales (1905). In 1904 he was elected a fellow of the British Academy and he was knighted in 1912.

In January 1922 , just before his death, he was made a Companion of Honour. Following his death later that same year, a memorial fund was established with Ramsey MacDonald as President and David Lloyd George as vice-president. His childhood home, Y Cwm, was bought with funds raised and David Lloyd George opened it as a museum in 1934 . It is now run by the Sir Henry Jones Memorial Trust. Source: The Syr Henry Jones Musuem website .

From the guide to the Papers of Sir Henry Jones, 1852-1922, Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Glasgow, Scotland, c1873-1998, (Glasgow University Archive Services)