EDWARDS, JOHN (Siôn Ceiriog; 1747 - 1792), bard and orator

Born in Glynceiriog, Denbighshire. He went as a young man to London and, after getting to know Owen Jones (Owain Myfyr) and Robert Hughes (Robin Ddu o Fôn) he joined the Society of Gwyneddigion. From then on until his death in September 1792 he was one of the most prominent members of the society: he was secretary in 1779, president in 1783, and he was regarded as the bard of the society. When the Gwyneddigion offered a silver medal for an elegy on Richard Morris in 1780, Siôn Ceiriog wrote a poem in blank verse, described as 'pindaric' (B.M. Add. MS. 14993, 57-8). Although it was Richard Jones, Trefdraeth, who won the medal, the society maintained that Siôn Ceiriog had written the better poem and he was given what was called an 'honorary medal.' Apart from this, little of his work has been preserved. It is obvious that he was a 'character,' and he also won much renown as an orator in the meetings of the Gwyneddigion and of the Society of Caradogion. He was a witty man but somewhat hot-headed and irresponsible, and his chief delight lay in 'ragging' his London friends. John Jones, Glan-y-gors (1766 - 1821), says that he was an astronomer, musician, and historian, but we do not know enough to substantiate the claim.

Author

• Emeritus Professor Griffith John Williams, (1892 - 1963)

Sources

• Leathart, Origin and Progress of the Gwyneddigion Society of London (London 1831), 16
• Geirlyfr Bywgraffiadol o Enwogion Cymru (1870), 115-6
• The Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, 1926-7, 113-4
• T. Morgan, Enwogion Cymreig 1700-1900 (1907)

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: John Edwards

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q6231368

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/