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| Born | Annie Jane Davies (1873-04-05)April 5, 1873 Llangeitho |
| Died | October 7, 1942(1942-10-07) (aged 69) Aberystwyth |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Annie Jane Ellis |
| Known for | Peace campaigner |
Annie Jane Hughes Griffiths was one of the ten children of Frances (née Humphreys) and Robert Joseph Davies, born in 1873. Members of the family, including her parents and several siblings, were well-connected and leading figures in both local political and religious life. They lived in Cwrt Mawr, a large Georgian mansion near Llangeitho village in Wales. She was sent to schools in Aberystwyth, London and Chester.
She spent most of her life in either Aberystwyth or London. She was at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth for three years but did not undertake degree studies. She became a public figure due to association with the University College of Wales, the campaign for a Welsh National Library, and membership of the Welsh chapel in Charing Cross, London.
While she was in London from 1895, housekeeping for two of her brothers, she met Thomas (Tom) Edward Ellis, the Liberal MP for Meirionethshire. They married in June 1898. His health declined, and they went to Cannes in France for him to recover. However, he died in April 1899. She gave birth to their child, Thomas Iorweth in December 1899. In 1916 she married again, to Reverend Peter Hughes Griffiths, the minister at the Welsh chapel in Charing Cross, London. Annie Hughes Griffiths died at Neuadd Wen, Llanbadarn Road, Aberystwyth on 7 October 1942. She was buried at Gwynfil chapel, Llangeitho, with her brother, J. H. Davies.
Peace campaigner
Davies was active in the League of Nations and became the President of the Welsh National Council of the League of Nations Union by 1923. She also acted as treasurer for a peace petition from the women of Wales to the women of the USA to encourage their country to join the League and thereby promote world peace. After 390,296 signatures had been collected, Griffiths led the group that took it to America, arriving in February 1924. It was presented at formal event in a New York hotel and Griffiths subsequently toured delivering several further speeches. She met the President Calvin Coolidge at an informal event in the White House. Although the USA did not join the League of nations, she continued her activity and support for peace and humanitarian causes.
In 2023 a Purple Plaque was installed in Aberystwyth to mark her work for peace. The petition is now in the National Library in Aberystwyth.
References
- ^ Elis, Meg. "Annie Jane Hughes Griffiths (1873 - 1942)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography/Y Bwygraffiadur Cymreig. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- "Cwrt Mawr, Llangeithio". Coflein. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- "Annie Hughes Griffiths (1873-1942)". Purple Plaques. Retrieved 27 December 2024.