JONES, WILLIAM (Gwrgant; 1803 - 1886), lawyer and writer

Born at Brwynog, Llanfihangel, Montgomeryshire, son of Robert Jones, a mason, and Margaret, his wife. He was educated at the village school at Meifod and then articled to a solicitor at Llanfyllin. He removed from there to S. Asaph, and thence to London, where for many years he carried on an extensive business.

He took a keen interest in Welsh letters, and wrote to the Welsh magazines under the name of Gwilym Brwynog. He published a book called Gwreiddiau yr Iaith Gymraeg. Gwrgant was a popular adjudicator at eisteddfodau; as one of the three adjudicators at the Rhuddlan eisteddfod (1850) he read the adjudication awarding the chair prize for a poem in the open metres to Evan Evans (Ieuan Glan Geirionydd).

Gwrgant took an active part in London Welsh activities all his life; he was a member of the Cymreigyddion Society, chairman of the London branch of the Cambrian Institution, and a member of the Society of Cymmrodorion - he was the librarian of the second Cymmrodorion Society, was present at the formation of the third Society thirty years later, and was a vice-president until his death in 1886.

Author

• Helen Myfanwy Ramage, (1992)

Sources

• R. Williams, Montgomeryshire Worthies (1894)
• Gwaith Talhaiarn (London 1855), i, 435
• Cambrian Journal (1854–64), 1856, 76
• Y Cymmrodor, 1951, 183
• Catalogue of Printed Literature in the Welsh Department, Cardiff Free Libraries (1898)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734668

Published date: 1959

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