Jan Morris

Jan Morris

Jan Morris CBE FRSL was a Welsh historian, author and travel writer. She published under her birth name, James, until 1972, when she had gender reassignment surgery after transitioning from male to female. She was a member of the 1953 British Mount Everest expedition, which made the first ascent of the mountain.

About Jan Morris in brief

Summary Jan MorrisJan Morris CBE FRSL was a Welsh historian, author and travel writer. She published under her birth name, James, until 1972, when she had gender reassignment surgery after transitioning from male to female. As James Morris, she was a member of the 1953 British Mount Everest expedition, which made the first ascent of the mountain. She died on 20 November 2020 at Ysbyty Bryn Beryl in Pwllheli in North Wales, at the age of 94. Her death was announced by her son Twm Morys. She has featured in the Pinc List of leading Welsh figures of the LGBT movement.

She was awarded the Golden PEN Award for Lifetime Distinguished Service to Literature in 2005. In January 2008, The Times named her the 15th greatest British writer since World War II. She won the Edward Stanford Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing in 2018. She is survived by her wife Elizabeth Tuckniss and their five children, including the poet and musician Twm. MoryS. She will be buried at the family home in Llanystumdwy, North Wales on November 20, 2020, at a service to be held at a later date to be announced.