David James Davies facts for kids

David James Davies (1893–1956), known as D. J. Davies, was a very interesting Welshman. He was an economist, meaning he studied how money and resources work. He was also an industrialist, a writer, a political activist, and even a pilot! D. J. Davies loved to travel the world before coming back to his home in Wales.

He first helped start the Labour Party in his area. But in 1925, he joined a new group called Plaid Cymru. This party focused on Welsh nationalism, which means they wanted Wales to have more control over its own future.

Historian John Davies said that D. J. Davies's ideas were very important. They helped shape what Plaid Cymru believed in after the Second World War. He was as important as another famous Welsh nationalist, Saunders Lewis.

Early Life in Wales

D. J. Davies was born on June 2, 1893, in Carmel, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He was the third child of Thomas and Ellen Davies. His father worked as a miner.

After going to local schools, D. J. started working at age 14. He worked in coal mines and at Barry Docks. Even though he worked long hours, he kept learning. He took evening classes and studied by mail.

A World Traveler

In 1912, D. J. Davies moved to Canada. Then he went to the United States, where he also worked in mines. He even helped start a company called the Northwestern Coal and Coke Company in Colorado.

Professor John Davies described him as "a colourful figure." D. J. traveled all over the United States. He even became a boxer! He studied at Colorado State University Pueblo and later law at Seattle University.

After his studies, Davies traveled to Asia. He spent time in Japan and China. Then he returned to the US and joined the United States Navy in 1918. He worked as an engineer and pilot. He chose the US military instead of the British. This was his way of protesting against how British officers treated people from different social classes.

In 1919, while on leave from the US Navy, Davies came back to Wales. He worked as a miner in Llandybïe. Sadly, he was seriously hurt in an accident. Because of this injury, he was discharged from the US Navy in 1920.

Becoming a Political Activist

After his accident, D. J. Davies had to rest. During this time, he studied a lot about economics, politics, and the history of working people. This made him want to get involved in politics. He became a founding member of the Labour Party in his area of Carmarthenshire.

In 1924, Davies traveled to Denmark. He went to special schools there called the International People's College and a Folk High School. His time in Denmark changed his ideas about politics. He started to believe that countries should work together as free nations. He thought that Welsh working people would do best if Wales was free.

He realized this before he even knew about the Welsh nationalist movement. He returned from Denmark believing strongly in Welsh nationalism. He also believed in an economic plan where workers would control their own production. Author Siôn T. Jobbins wrote that Davies was very impressed by Denmark. He saw how a small country could govern itself.

Inspired by the Danish schools, Davies and his new wife, Noëlle Ffrench, tried to start a similar school in Ireland. They had met at the International People's College. But their plan didn't work out.

So, in 1925, they moved to Aberystwyth. Davies started studying at Aberystwyth University. In the same year, he left the Labour Party. He became a founding member of a new party called Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru. Today, we know it as Plaid Cymru; the Party of Wales.

Davies earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1928. He then got his Master of Arts in 1930 and a PhD in 1931. He won awards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales for his essays on economics and politics. His economic ideas were inspired by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal." He often suggested that Wales could learn from the Tennessee Valley Authority in the US.

In 1932, Davies and his wife tried again to start a Folk School. They bought a large house in Gilwern. But this attempt also did not succeed.

Davies became more involved with Plaid Cymru. He researched economics and politics. He wrote many pamphlets and articles for the party's publications. He also wrote for other Welsh and English newspapers.

Davies believed in talking to English-speaking Welsh communities. He also stressed that all of Wales, including Monmouthshire, was one country. He looked to countries like Denmark and Norway as examples for Wales. He worked hard on ideas for how an independent Wales would manage its economy.

In the 1950s, Davies and his wife were very concerned about Monmouthshire. Some people thought it was part of England, but the Davieses believed it was always part of Wales. They worked to show that it was an important part of Wales.

Death

D. J. Davies passed away on October 11, 1956. He was buried in the Carmel graveyard in Carmarthenshire.