Lewis Jones (Q61585)

Lewis Jones, pioneer in Patagonia and writer, was born in Caernarfon. Whilst living in Liverpool as a young man, he became one of the leaders of the Welsh Colony Movement. In 1862 he sailed on an explorative voyage to Patagonia in order to assess the land's suitability for colonisation and to prepare the way for the first contingency of Welsh emigrants. On his return, Jones's colourful descriptions of the new country proved misleading and he came into conflict with emigrants disappointed with the reality of their new home, though he eventually succeeded in persuading his countrymen to remain. Jones was elected governor of Patagonia for a time - the first and only Welshman to hold that post. He also established a printing press and two newspapers in the colony - Ein Breiniad (1878) and Y Dravod (1891); the latter continues to be published to this day. Jones also published a book detailing the Welsh settlement entitled Y Wladfa Gymreig (1898).