EDWARDS, JOHN (Meiriadog; 1813 - 1906), poet and editor

Born at Llanrwst, he was educated at the local grammar school, and afterwards apprenticed as a printer. He revealed much literary talent while still young, and between 1835 and 1860 in particular many of his poems were published in Seren Gomer, Y Dysgedydd, Y Diwygiwr, Y Gwladgarwr, and Y Drysorfa. In turn he lived at Cefn-mawr, Llanfaircaereinion, Cardiff, and Merthyr Tydfil, before finally settling down at Llanfaircaereinion, Montgomeryshire, in 1844; there he married Elizabeth Watkin. He was an ardent Baptist, and in politics an uncompromising Liberal. During his lifetime he was an acknowledged authority on Welsh grammar and syntax, and a master of cynghanedd. A most successful eisteddfod competitor and winner of many chairs, he was also a popular adjudicator. He edited Yr Hyfforddwr for a time from 1852, and from 1858 he was responsible for Y Llusern. He died 24 July 1906, aged 93 years. His manuscripts were presented to the National Library of Wales in 1926.

Author

• Dr David Jenkins, (1912 - 2002)

Sources

• Bye-Gones, relating to Wales and the Border Counties, 1906, 276
• T. M. Jones, Llenyddiaeth fy Ngwlad: sef hanes y newyddiadur a'r cylchgrawn Cymreig yn Nghymru, America, ac Awstralia, yn nghyd a'u dylanwad ar fywyd cenedl y Cymry (Treffynnon 1893), 103, 105
• Edward Jones, Rhestr gyda nodiadau byrion, o Enwogion Cymreig o 1700 i 1900 (1908)
• NLW Archives: NLW MSS 5950-72

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20565356

Published date: 1959

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