Background
Davies was born near Pwllheli, in Caernarfonshire, north Wales, on 11 October 1887.
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William Davies
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Education
He was educated in Porthmadog and was a pupil-teacher in Penrhyndeudraeth before studying at the University College of Wales (later to become Aberystwyth University).
Career
After graduating, he taught in various locations in Wales and at the University College, Cardiff (later to become Cardiff University). In 1919, he was appointed first assistant librarian at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, under John Ballinger. He succeeded Ballinger on his retirement in 1930 and continued as chief librarian until he died on 11 November 1952.
During his time as chief librarian, he worked to collect and preserve many Welsh manuscripts and materials located in private hands or other collections, and he acquired approximately 3.3 million documents (the Library had only about 200,000 documents when he was appointed chief librarian).
His work for the Library and Wales were noted with the award of a knighthood in 1944 and an honorary doctorate by the University of Wales in 1951. He served as High Sheriff of Merionethshire in 1951.
Membership
He was a member of the Royal Garrison Artillery during the First World War and then an officer in the Army Education Service.
