Daniel Lleufer Thomas

Sir Daniel Lleufer Thomas (29 August 1863 – 8 August 1940) was a Welsh barrister, social reformer and writer. He was born on 29 August 1863 to William and Esther Thomas at Llethr Enoch, Cwm-du, Talley, Carmarthenshire, in West Wales.

Early life Thomas was born on 29 August 1863, the third child of William and Esther Thomas, at Llethr Enoch, Cwm-du, Talley in Carmarthenshire West Wales. He received occasional education from Jonah Evans, who opened a local preparatory school in Llansawel (Sawel Academy), while working on his father's farm. However, in 1880 and while 17 years old, he enrolled in Llandovery College, where the headmaster, Alfred George Edwards (who was later to become the first Archbishop of Wales), persuaded his parents to apply for a place for him at Oxford University. Thomas enrolled in the university in 1883 and graduated in 1887 with a Third Class Honours degree in Jurisprudence. However, from 1886 to 1892 he held the prestigious Tancred Scholarship, which enabled him to read for the Bar, to which he was called in 1889. Later life In 1890 Thomas was nominated to be Liberal candidate for the vacancy in East Carmarthenshire following the death of David Pugh. However, he withdrew before the selection conference. In 1891 he began contributing to the Dictionary of National Biography, to which, upon his invitation, John Edward Lloyd made substantial contributions.

Thomas was knighted in February 1931. His portrait was painted by Margaret Lindsay Williams in 1938 and currently resides in the National Museum Wales.

He is buried in Oystermouth Cemetery, Mumbles, Swansea, alongside his wife Mary, who was the great-granddaughter of Thomas Evans (Tomos Glyn Cothi).

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