Jim Griffiths

James "Jim" Griffiths (1890-1975) was a Welsh Labour politician, the prime mover in the establishment of the Welsh Office. Griffiths was born in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, a strongly Welsh-speaking area. He went into politics via the trade union movement, having become an official in the miners' union. In 1936, he was elected MP for Llanelli, a constituency which he held until his retirement in 1970. A political moderate, he nevertheless had nationalist sympathies, and recognised the need for a measure of self-government for Wales. In 1964, under Harold Wilson's premiership, he became the first Secretary of State for Wales, and remained in the office for two years. Griffiths had a considerable popular following, and his good reputation lives after him.