William Price (physician)
William Price | |
---|---|
Born | Rudry, Caerphilly, Wales | 4 March 1800
Died | 23 January 1893 Llantrisant, Glamorgan, Wales | (aged 92)
Nationality | Welsh |
Occupation(s) | Physician, political activist |
Known for | His involvement in Chartism and Neo-Druidry, and for pioneering of cremation in Great Britain |
William Price (4 March 1800 – 23 January 1893) was a Welsh physician and political activist best known for his support of Welsh nationalism, Chartism and involvement with the Neo-Druidic religious movement. Historians have characterised Price as one of the most significant figures in Wales in the Victorian era.[1][2][3]
Born into a working class family in Rudry, Caerphilly, Price underwent medical training in London before returning to Wales, becoming interested in the Chartists' ideas regarding democracy and civil and political rights for all men. Following the failed Chartist Newport Rising in 1839, he escaped government prosecution by fleeing to France, where he became convinced that an ancient prophecy predicted that he would achieve Welsh independence from the United Kingdom.
Returning to Wales, Price tried reviving what he believed to be the religion of the ancient druids, Celtic ritualists active during the Iron Age. In doing so, he became one of the most prominent proponents of the Neo-Druidic movement, something that had been developing since Iolo Morganwg's activities in the late 18th century. After cremating his dead son in 1884, Price was arrested and put on trial by those who believed cremation was illegal under English law; however, he successfully argued that there was no legislation that specifically outlawed it, which paved the way for the Cremation Act 1902. Upon his death, he was cremated in a ceremony watched by 20,000 onlookers.
Known for adhering to beliefs such as supporting equal rights for all men,
Biography
Early life: 1800–1821
William Price was born in a cottage at the farm Ty'n-y-coedcae ('the
The elder Price suffered from an undiagnosed
At home, Welsh was William's primary language, but he learned to speak English at school,[11] which was located two miles from his home, in Machen.[12] Although only staying at school for three years, between the ages of 10 and 13, he passed most exams and proved himself a successful student. After spending six months living at home, he decided to become a doctor despite his father's insistence that he become a solicitor.[13] Moving to Caerphilly, in 1814 he became apprenticed to successful surgeon Evan Edwards, and paid for his tuition with money supplied by various family members. One of these benefactors, his uncle the Reverend Thomas Price of Merriott, Somerset, advised him to give up this education, arguing that it was putting too great a financial strain upon Price's family, but William was insistent that he should continue.[14]
In 1820, Price's apprenticeship with Edwards came to an end, and despite his lack of funds, he moved to London in order to continue his studies. Taking up lodgings near to
Welsh nationalism and Chartism: 1821–1839
Early in his career, Price returned to Wales, where he was employed at Pentyrch Ironworks as a medical attendant. At this time he lived at a property nearby which he named Ynys y Llewod Duon ('island of the black lions') which was sometimes referred to as the 'Ynys house'.
Becoming a trained doctor, he then set up his medical practice at Craig yr Helfa in Glyntaff, remaining there for seven years.[17][11]
He later rented a farm in Upper Boat called Porth y Glo ('coal port') which was owned by the son of a solicitor, Mr Grover. Price filled his farm with goats and cattle which ate and inflicted considerable damage to green trees around the property and throughout the neighbourhood, which prompted his landlord to serve him an eviction notice, which William dismissed. Mr Grover initiated an action of ejection after Price refused to leave. As a consequence and with "intense popular excitement", all of his animals were set loose onto the highway. Price, who was protesting his right to stay, secured himself onto his chair in the furthest room in the house refusing to leave, was carried out in his chair and was then placed outside on the road.[7][18]
He subsequently moved to the newly industrialised
Price became increasingly interested in Welsh cultural activities, which included those that had been influenced by the Neo-Druidic movement. During his life, due to his extensive research into druidism, he would often be confused with a Welsh bard; Evan Davies (Myfyr Morganwg).[7] He joined the Society of the Rocking Stone, a Neo-Druidic group that met at the Y Maen Chwyf stone circle in Pontypridd, and by 1837 had become one of its leading members. To encourage the revival of Welsh culture, he gave lessons every Sunday in Welsh, which he feared was dying out with the spread of the English language.[22] In 1838 he also called for the Society to raise funds to build a Druidical Museum in the town, the receipts from which would be used to run a free school for the poor. He was supported in this venture by Francis Crawshay, a member of the Crawshay family, but did not gain enough sponsors to allow the project to go ahead. In anger, he issued a statement in a local newspaper, telling the people that they were ignoring "your immortal progenitors, to whom you owe your very existence as a civilised people."[22][23]
Meanwhile, Price's social conscience had led him to become a significant figure in the local Chartist movement, which was then spreading about the country, supporting the idea that all men should have the right to vote, irrespective of their wealth or social standing. Many of the Chartists in the industrial areas of southern Wales took up arms in order to ready themselves for revolution against the government, and Price aided them in gaining such weaponry. According to government reports, by 1839 he had acquired seven pieces of field artillery. That same year, the Newport Rising took place, when many of the Chartists and their working class supporters rose up against the authorities, only to be quashed by soldiers, who killed a number of the revolutionaries. Price had recognised that this would happen, and he and his supporters had not joined in with the rebellion on that day. Nonetheless, he also realised that the government would begin a crackdown of those involved in the Chartist movement in retaliation for the uprising, and so he fled to France, disguised as a woman, there he became fluent in their native language.[24]
Life as an archdruid: 1840–1882
It was while in temporary exile as a political dissident in Paris that Price visited the Louvre museum, where he experienced what has been described as "a turning-point in his religious life." He became highly interested in a stone with a Greek inscription that he erroneously felt depicted an ancient Celtic bard addressing the moon. He subsequently interpreted the inscription as a prophecy given by an ancient Welsh prince named Alun, declaring that a man would come in the future to reveal the true secrets of the Welsh language and to liberate the Welsh people; however, historian Ronald Hutton later remarked, "nobody else had heard of this person, or made (anything like) the same interpretation of the inscription". Nonetheless, Price felt that this prophecy applied to him and that he must return to Wales to achieve Welsh independence from the United Kingdom.[25]
Soon returning to Wales, Price set himself up as a druid, founding a religious druidic group that attracted a number of followers. Little is known of the specific doctrines which he preached, but his followers walked around carrying staffs engraved with figures and letters. Declaring that marriage was wrong as it enslaved women, he began having a relationship with a woman named Ann Morgan, whom he moved in with, and in 1842 they had a daughter. He baptised this child himself at the Rocking Stone in Pontypridd, naming her Gwenhiolan Iarlles Morganwg (meaning 'Gwenhiolan, Countess of
Returning to his long-held idea of building a museum and school at Pontypridd, a local landowner, Sir Benjamin Hall, who wanted to encourage the revival of Welsh culture, allowed him to use his own land, although Price and the Halls subsequently fell out and the project was scrapped. Left with debts from the aborted project, Price once more escaped to France in 1861. Around this time, he began writing to the national press, making exaggerated statements about himself and Welsh history, for instance claiming that he was Lord of the Southern Welsh and that "All the Greek Books are the Works of the Primitive Bards, in our own Language!!!!!!!… Homer was born in the hamlet of Y Van near Caerphili. He built Caerphili Castle… the oldest Books of the Chinese confess the fact!!"[28]
In 1866, Price returned to Wales, finding that his daughter had grown up to live her own life following her mother, Ann Morgan's, death. He settled in the town of Llantrisant, where he opened a new medical practice, which proved to be a success. He eventually took a young farmer's daughter, Gwenllian Llewelyn, (1859–1948)[29] who at the time was only twenty-one years old, to be his new partner, despite the fact that he was an old man by this time.[30] Despite his earlier pronouncements against marriage, he organised a druidic wedding ceremony through which he married Gwenllian on 4 March 1881, on Price's 81st birthday. Taking place at the Rocking Stone in Pontypridd, it involved Price addressing the sun at noon, and women dressed as the Three Graces were involved. The ceremony attracted a large audience, who, according to reports, found the whole proceeding amusing.[31] Meanwhile, in 1871, he had published a book, written in his own invented form of Welsh that he believed was the true language of the ancient Welsh. In the work, which had a title that translated as The Will of My Father, Price conceptualised the universe being created out of a snake's egg by a supreme Father God. However, this work was largely ignored at the time and soon fell into obscurity.[32]
Later life and advocacy of cremation: 1883–1893
"Down to the time of his death his features retained striking characteristics. and old age had invested them with much dignity. His two eyes resembled those of a hawk; his nose was slightly aquiline in shape, and his forehead was broad and lofty. He kept all his beard, and it grew in shape something similar to a goatee and reaching down to his breast. It was silken and perfectly white. His hair, also white as snow was likewise allowed to grow long, and it was plaited in long skeins, the ends of which were looped up about the lower parts of his head. But his remarkable eccentricities through all periods of his long life left, no doubt, in the minds of those who knew him intimately that his brain was seriously affected. it seemed as if his great natural gifts were always struggling with "a mind diseased," but as far as is known he could satisfactorily command his mind in the exercise of his profession."
South Wales Star – Friday 27 January 1893[33]
Price proclaimed himself a 'High priest of the sun grown old' and via a 'druidic prophecy' and feeling dissatisfied that he had not produced a son that would succeed him, he sought out a virgin to copulate with; Gwenllian (or shortened to 'Gwen'), who was 18 at the time, was chosen as his new partner. Gwen and Price's first child was born on 8 August 1883,
A post-mortem was performed on Iesu's body by a local doctor, who concluded that the child had died of natural causes and had not been murdered. Price was therefore not charged with infanticide, but was instead tried in a Cardiff courtroom for performing cremation rather than burial, which the police believed to be illegal. Price argued that while the law did not state that cremation was legal, it also did not state that it was illegal either. The judge, Mr. Justice Stephen, agreed. Price was freed, and returned to Llantrisant to find a crowd of supporters cheering for his victory. On 14 March, he was finally able to give his son a cremation involving his own personal Druidic prayers.[34] The case set a precedent which, together with the activities of the recently founded Cremation Society of Great Britain, led to the Cremation Act 1902.[35] In 1885 the first official cremation of the remains of Jeanette Pickersgill (1814–1885) took place at Woking Crematorium, and ten cremations are recorded as being performed in the following year. A crematorium opened in Manchester in 1892, followed by one in Glasgow in 1895, Liverpool in 1896 and Birmingham Crematorium in 1903.[36]
The media interest in the court case had made Price famous, and he soon began to capitalise on this fame, selling three hundred medals, each depicting the cosmic egg and the snake that laid it, commemorating his victory, which sold at threepence each. He began to be invited to give lectures and attend public functions, but these did not prove to be particular successes, with much of his audiences not understanding either his philosophies, or his attire, which was made out of red cloth and embroidered with green letters.[37]
In late 1884, Price's wife gave birth to their second child, whom Price also named Iesu Grist, and on 27 May 1886 she then bore him a daughter, whom they named Penelopen.[38] He believed that his son had an important future ahead of him, being the prophesied second coming of Jesus Christ, his namesake, and predicted that he would come to reign over the earth. Gwen separated from William a few years before his death but continued looking after their children. Meanwhile, in 1892 he erected a pole which was over 60 feet high, with a crescent moon symbol at its peak, on top of Caerlan hill where his first son had been cremated, and noted that he wanted his funeral to take place there as well.[39]
Price died at his home in Llantrisant on the night of 23 January 1893.
Personal beliefs
Price held several strongly held beliefs that ran counter to the Victorian social norms of the time, and chose to promote them in a "most exhibitory fashion".[42] Biographer Dean Powell considered him "a maverick and a rebel", but was unsure as to whether Price's eccentricity was a result of mental illness or not.[43]
A
Price was also responsible for the building of the famous "Round houses" in Pontypridd. He convinced a local builder that he owned the land and these round houses were to be the gateway to his mansion. He neither owned the land nor a mansion.[citation needed]
Price believed that religion was often used to enslave people, and despised "sanctimonious preachers".[45] His religious beliefs have provided an influence on the modern druidic movement. Michell referred to him as "a natural shaman".[46]
Legacy
Soon after Price's death, ballads commemorating him were composed and circulated throughout the local area for a number of years afterward. In 1896, an exhibition that commemorated his life was held in Cardiff, while a pamphlet biography of him was published to accompany it.[39] A more significant biography of Price, written by Islwyn Nicholas, was published in 1940, entitled A Welsh Heretic. In 1947, the Cremation Society put up a plaque commemorating him in the town of Llantrisant, while a statue of him was unveiled in the town in 1982, depicting the doctor in his characteristic fox-skin headdress, arms outstretched.[47] This was followed in 1992 when a memorial garden was named after him, and an exhibition about him opened in the town's visitor centre.[5]
In a 1966 book examining the history of Llantrisant, author Dillwyn Lewis described Price as being "one of the most controversial figures of modern times."[48] The historian Ronald Hutton later described him as "both one of the most colourful characters in Welsh history, and one of the most remarkable in Victorian Britain"[2] while his biographer Dean Powell considered him "the most notable individual in 19th century Wales".[1]
A commemorative green plaque was installed at Rudry Parish Hall in 2017 near Price's birthplace.[49]
In 2020, American actor
References
Citations
- ^ a b Powell 2005. p. 3.
- ^ a b Hutton 2009. p. 253.
- ^ "Price, William, Dr, (Llantrisant), papers". Archives Network Wales. May 2003. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
- ^ BBC Welsh hall of fame Archived 27 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Hutton 2009. p. 286.
- ^ Powell 2005, p. 6.
- ^ a b c South Wales Star – Friday 27 January 1893
- ^ a b Powell 2005, pp. 9–10.
- ^ Powell 2005, p. 9.
- ^ Powell 2005, pp. 10–11.
- ^ a b c Hutton 2009, p. 253.
- required.)
- ^ Powell 2005, p. 12.
- ^ Powell 2005, p. 13.
- ^ Powell 2005, pp. 15–17.
- ^ Powell 2005, p. 26.
- ^ Powell 2005, p. 27.
- ^ Powell 2005, pp. 27–29.
- ^ a b Powell 2005, p. 29.
- ^ Powell 2005, p. 31.
- ^ Hutton 2009, pp. 253–254.
- ^ a b Hutton 2009, p. 254.
- ^ Powell 2005, pp. 37–41.
- ^ Hutton 2009, pp. 254–255.
- ^ Hutton 2009, p. 255.
- ^ Hutton 2009. p. 255.
- ^ Hutton 2009, p. 256.
- ^ Hutton 2009. pp. 280–281.
- ^ a b c d "Dr William Price from the town of llantrisant". Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ Hutton 2009. p. 281.
- ^ Hutton 2009. p. 282.
- ^ Hutton 2009. pp. 281–282.
- ^ South Wales Star, Friday 27 January 1893 – https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000909/18930127/029/0006
- ^ a b Hutton 2009. p. 283.
- ^ "Doctor William Price". Rhondda Cynon Taf Library Service. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ "srgw.demon.co.uk". www.srgw.demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 August 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
- ^ Hutton 2009. pp. 283–284.
- ^ Powell 2005. p. 95.
- ^ a b c d Hutton 2009. p. 285.
- ^ "PRICE, WILLIAM (1800–1893)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. 1959. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ^ Angus Deayton (22 January 2012). It's Your Round – S02E05 (radio). It's Your Round (radio). Vol. S02E05. BBC Radio 4. Event occurs at 21:30.
- ^ Powell 2005, p. 3.
- ^ a b c d Powell 2005, p. 41.
- ^ a b c Powell 2005, p. 42.
- ^ Powell 2005, p. 33.
- ^ Michell 1997. p. 6.
- ^ Llantrisant timeline Archived 7 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lewis 1966. p. 57.
- ^ "Plaque unveiled in Rudry to mark the birthplace of radical doctor". 11 October 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ Desborough, James; Humphries, Will. "Robert Downey Jr talks to the animals as Dr Dolittle, but with a terrible Welsh accent". The Times. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
Sources
- Bracegirdle, Cyril (1997). Dr. William Price: Saint or Sinner?. Gwasg Carreg Gwalch. ISBN 978-0-86381-434-1.
- Hutton, Ronald (2009). Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain. New Haven, CT: ISBN 978-0-300-14485-7.
- Lewis, Dillwyn (1966). The History of Llantrisant. Beddau Centenary Committee.
- Michell, John (1984). Eccentric Lives and Peculiar Notions. London: ISBN 978-0-7474-0353-1.
- Powell, Dean (2005). Eccentric: The Life of Dr. William Price. Llantrisant, Wales: Dean Powell. ISBN 978-0-9550854-0-6.
External links
- William Price Archived 17 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine at 100 Welsh Heroes
- Ballad of the cremation of Dr William Price, 1893
- Dr. Price of Llantrisant Archived 29 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine by Ap Idanfryn
- Price, William (1800–1893) at oxforddnb.com