Thomas Llewellyn Thomas

Thomas Llewellyn Thomas (generally known as Llewellyn Thomas) (14 November 1840 – 12 May 1897) was a Welsh Anglican clergyman and scholar of the Welsh language. He wrote poems in English, Latin and Welsh and worked on a Basque translation of the Old Testament. He was a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford for twenty-five years, including fifteen years as Vice-Principal, but failed to be elected Principal in 1895, losing out to John Rhys.

Life Thomas was the eldest son of Canon Thomas Thomas, known as "Thomas of Caernarfon" where he was the vicar for twenty-four years. Thomas was born at the vicarage in Caernarfon on 14 November 1840 and was privately educated until he was nine. After further schooling, including attendance a Welsh-language Sunday School, Thomas matriculated at Oxford University in October 1860, becoming a scholar of Jesus College. He was placed in the second class in Classical Moderations and obtained a third-class Bachelor of Arts degree in Literae Humaniores in 1865. His Master of Arts degree followed in 1868. He spent some time as a teacher, at Rossall School, Llandovery College (for two years) and Ruthin School (for five years). He was ordained deacon in 1867, and was ordained priest by Thomas Short, the Bishop of St Asaph, in the following year. He served as a curate in Llanrhaeadr (1867–1870), Llanfwrog (1870–1871) and Ruabon (1872). In 1880, he was later appointed by Jesus College as rector of Nutfield, Surrey, a position he held for two years. He was appointed as a canon of St Asaph's Cathedral in 1897, but died before he was installed. Thomas hoped to succeed Harper as Principal, but instead the position went to John Rhys, who had become the university's first professor of Celtic.

He contracted pneumonia in May 1897, dying on 12 May at the age of fifty-seven. He was buried in Llanbeblig cemetery, Caernarfon, alongside his father, after a Welsh-language choral funeral service.