Not many people in Wales have heard of Richard Price, who was born in Llangeinor, Bridgend around 300 years ago. But he was arguably one of the most influential Welshmen ever to have lived and he is generally regarded as being one of the architects of the American Revolution.
He left Wales for London where he became a preacher, and also became active in politics, writing various articles and pamphlets which were critical of the British policy towards its North American colonies. In particular, he published an article entitled “Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War with America” which was widely read and acknowledged as inspiring the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Many of the American Founding Fathers visited Price in London to discuss his ideas and he was later honoured, along with George Washington, with a Doctor of Law from Yale University.
Today, at nearby Harvard University, Richard’s namesake – Adam Price - is studying at the John F. Kennedy School of Government for a Mid-Career Master in Public Administration, following which he will complete a fellowship at the Center for International Development, where he is studying the economic plight of small nations. Adam is then expected to return to Wales to apply the knowledge he has gained, and will hopefully assume the leadership of Plaid Cymru.
So while Wales helped America gain its independence from Britain, could America soon be credited with helping to achieve Welsh independence??
He left Wales for London where he became a preacher, and also became active in politics, writing various articles and pamphlets which were critical of the British policy towards its North American colonies. In particular, he published an article entitled “Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War with America” which was widely read and acknowledged as inspiring the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Many of the American Founding Fathers visited Price in London to discuss his ideas and he was later honoured, along with George Washington, with a Doctor of Law from Yale University.
Today, at nearby Harvard University, Richard’s namesake – Adam Price - is studying at the John F. Kennedy School of Government for a Mid-Career Master in Public Administration, following which he will complete a fellowship at the Center for International Development, where he is studying the economic plight of small nations. Adam is then expected to return to Wales to apply the knowledge he has gained, and will hopefully assume the leadership of Plaid Cymru.
So while Wales helped America gain its independence from Britain, could America soon be credited with helping to achieve Welsh independence??
Richard Price is definitely an undersung hero, Pen.
ReplyDeleteAs for his namesake, I wouldn't use the word "plight". In fact it's rather the opposite. The main finding of Adam Price's research so far (with Ben Levinger) is that the economies of small countries tend to perform better than those of large countries, particularly in response to economic storms. They call this the "Flotilla Effect". There's a short account of the findings here, and their full paper can be downloaded here.
The implication is that by breaking free of the UK economy the smaller Welsh economy would be able to react much more quickly to new economic opportunities; and would be able to adjust more easily to whatever changes are needed in society to make the most of them because we only have to deal with 3m people rather than 60m.
Good article but I think the title should be...."The Price is Right". :-)
ReplyDeleteThe problem with recognising Richard Price, is that he was raised in an age when Wales barely existed and he is often referred to as being English.
ReplyDeleteps - I almost titled this 'The Price is Right' but thought it was a bit cheesy....
Penddu