Morgan John Rhys

Morgan John Rhys, also Rhees (8 December 1760 – 7 December 1804) was a Welsh radical evangelical Baptist minister. He preached the principles of the French Revolution, against slavery, and in favour of the reform of parliament.

Life

Morgan John Rhys was a Welsh radical evangelical Baptist minister. He preached the principles of the French Revolution, against slavery, and in favour of the reform of parliament

In 1794 he grew tired of the repression in Britain and emigrated to America where he established a Welsh colony, Cambria. Here he established his own religious denomination and a newspaper, The western sky. After emigrating to America he changed his surname to Rhees.

He moved to Somerset County in 1799 and died there in 1804.

Morgan Rhees's second son, Benjamin Rush Rhees, was named after Morgan's friend and benefactor Benjamin Rush He would go on to become a Professor at Jefferson Medical College.

Morgan Rhees was the great-grandfather of Nicholas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University. He was also the great-grandfather of Benjamin Rush Rhees, the third president of the University of Rochester and, in turn, great-great-grandfather of Wittgensteinian philosopher Rush Rhees.