Thomas Morgan (navy chaplain)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Morgan was a Welsh navy chaplain
who saw action during the French Revolutionary Wars
and was involved in the Spithead mutiny before serving as chaplain of the naval dockyard at Portsmouth
.
. He then studied at the University of Oxford
, firstly at Wadham College
and then at Jesus College
, and graduated in 1790. He later obtained his DD
degree (1824). He was ordained and joined the Royal Navy
as a navy chaplain
. During the French Revolutionary Wars
, Morgan was injured during the naval battle of the Glorious First of June
in 1794. Four years later, he was serving at Spithead
during the Spithead mutiny. Sympathetic to the men's grievances, he helped to restore order. Morgan served as chaplain and secretary to Admiral Sir Charles Cotton
from 1799 to 1807, then served as a chaplain in naval hospitals before his final posting as chaplain at Portsmouth naval dockyard
. He was also a priest of various parishes: Talley
and Llansadwrn
in Carmarthenshire
, Llanfaches in Monmouthshire
and Kings Langley
, Hertfordshire
. He died on 22 November 1851 in Portsmouth.
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
who saw action during the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
and was involved in the Spithead mutiny before serving as chaplain of the naval dockyard at Portsmouth
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
.
Life
Morgan was born on 6 December 1769 and educated at Christ College, BreconChrist College, Brecon
Christ College, Brecon is a co-educational, boarding and day independent school, located in the market town of Brecon in mid-Wales. It caters for pupils from eleven to eighteen.Christ College was founded by Royal Charter in 1541 by King Henry VIII...
. He then studied at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, firstly at Wadham College
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
and then at Jesus College
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, and graduated in 1790. He later obtained his DD
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree (1824). He was ordained and joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a navy chaplain
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
. During the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, Morgan was injured during the naval battle of the Glorious First of June
Glorious First of June
The Glorious First of June [Note A] of 1794 was the first and largest fleet action of the naval conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the First French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars...
in 1794. Four years later, he was serving at Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
during the Spithead mutiny. Sympathetic to the men's grievances, he helped to restore order. Morgan served as chaplain and secretary to Admiral Sir Charles Cotton
Sir Charles Cotton, 5th Baronet
Sir Charles Cotton, 5th Baronet was a senior Royal Navy officer of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars whose service continued until his death in command of the Channel Fleet from apoplexy in 1812. During his service, Cotton saw action off the Eastern Seaboard of the Thirteen Colonies and...
from 1799 to 1807, then served as a chaplain in naval hospitals before his final posting as chaplain at Portsmouth naval dockyard
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
. He was also a priest of various parishes: Talley
Talley
Talley is a small village located in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is known for the ruins of Talley Abbey a former Premonstratensian abbey destroyed in about 1536 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.- External links :...
and Llansadwrn
Llansadwrn
Llansadwrn is a small village in Carmarthenshire, Wales.It is located in the countryside of the River Tywi river valley, about half way between Llanymddyfri to the north-east, and Llandeilo to the south-west, just off the A40 road....
in Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, Llanfaches in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
and Kings Langley
Kings Langley
Kings Langley is a historic English village and civil parish northwest of central London on the southern edge of the Chiltern Hills and now part of the London commuter belt. The major western portion lies in the borough of Dacorum and the east is in the Three Rivers district, both in the county of...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. He died on 22 November 1851 in Portsmouth.