Welsh Journals

Welshman was killed towards the end of August or the beginning of September 1866 in forbidden Korean waters. One account claims that he held a significant position as navigator and interpreter aboard an armed trading ship which was American and was on a revenge mission to P'yongyang in what is now North Korea. A recent writer, Professor. Han Guy Mu, from Kwangju University in the Southern Republic writes that this was 'one of the most significant events in the US-Korea relationship'. He claims that all the archive materials agree that the Koreans attacked the ship because the ship's crew led by Thomas kidnapped the garrison commander who attempted to board the ship to ask her to leave. However, a rescue was executed and the official was saved. This left the way open for the ship to be attacked, and civilians joined with the soldiers to set fire to the ship. Accounts vary greatly as to what actually happened when the crew was put to death and how Robert Jermain Thomas died. It is certain that he was executed but the manner of his death is unclear. Professor Mu summarizes his account by stating that 'Thomas came to Korea aboard an armed merchant ship intent on reaching P'yongyang no matter what and in complete disregard of the laws of Korea. Thomas was involved in kidnapping, killing of civilians and open armed confrontation with Korean officials. It may be argued that Thomas was caught in a tragic accident, largely of his own making and therefore he must not be dubbed a martyr'.This is a recent assessment by someone from South Korea who would presumably have no Marxist axe to grind but the role of Thomas in missionary history is certainly diminished. Fig. 4: From a Korean Greeting Card, a depiction of the Martyrdom of Robert Jermain Thomas.