[2] Thomas was born in 1865, and was educated at various colleges before matriculating to Aberystwyth University.
He was elected onto Neath Town Council in 1897 and was made mayor in 1900.
As well as a keen rugby player, Thomas was also a powerful swimmer and rescued a man from drowning in the Blue Pool, Pontsarn in Merthyr.
He was first selected for the Welsh squad in the opening game of the 1885 Home Nations Championship in a match played at St Helen's against England.
Thomas was one of three first caps in the Welsh pack for the game, the other two were Ernest Rowland from Lampeter University and Swansea's Evan Richards, but the team is best remembered for introducing Arthur Gould to the Wales team.