A Biographical Sketch of some of the Most Eminent Individuals Part 2

_John Humphreys Parry_, an ingenious antiquary, and one of the most pleasing and learned writers of the present age, was born at Mold, in Flints.h.i.+re, in 1787, and his father was rector of the neighbouring parish of Llanverras. After an University education, he became a member of the Temple in 1807, and in due time he was called to the bar in 1810. He obtained considerable reputation in his profession, and gained great praise by the publication of the "Cambro Briton," in three volumes, which appeared periodically, and the value of which was greatly enhanced by his valuable and judicious notes; he was the author also of the "Cambrian Plutarch," and several prize essays. He was appointed the editor of the transactions of the London Cymmrodorion, a volume of which appeared under his auspices. His native country sustained a great loss by his death, which took place in 1825, in a most melancholy manner: a drunken man knocked him down in the street; he fell with his head against the pavement, and was killed upon the spot, leaving a wife and five children unprovided for.

_Richard Parry_, D.D., was born at Ruthin, Denbighs.h.i.+re, in the year 1578, and was educated at Westminster School, under Camden, from whence he was elected a student of Christ Church, Oxford; at the age of nineteen, he became chancellor of Bangor, vicar of Gresford, and then dean of Bangor. On the accession of James the First, who had a high opinion of his learning, he nominated him to the bishopric of St. Asaph in 1604. He was a prelate of great learning and piety; and he revised the Bible which was translated by Dr. Morgan, and published a second edition in 1620, which is now the standard of the Welsh translation of the Bible. He founded a scholars.h.i.+p in Jesus College, Oxford, to be held by one who has been educated at Ruthin School, where he was the second who held the masters.h.i.+p after its foundation by Dean Goodman. He died at Diserth, near St. Asaph, in September, 1623.

_Thomas Pennant_, the celebrated antiquary and naturalist, was born at Bychton, in Flints.h.i.+re, in the year 1726. He studied at Queen's College, Oxford, and he afterwards removed to Oriel, which he left without taking a degree. Being of an active and talented mind, he imbibed early a taste for natural history; and the first effort of his pen appeared in an account of an earthquake which was felt at Downing, and it was published in the "Philosophical Transactions." In 1754 he was elected a fellow of the Antiquarian Society, and in 1757, at the instance of the great Linnaeus, he was also elected fellow of the Royal Society at Upsal. He published the first edition of his "British Zoology" in 1761. He soon after visited the Continent, where he became intimate with Buffon, Pallas, and several other distinguished naturalists. In 1768 a new edition of the British Zoology appeared, and it was successively followed by his other works on Natural History, and "Tours in Scotland and Wales."

In 1790 was published his "Account of London," which was received with great avidity, and rapidly pa.s.sed through several editions. His works are very numerous, and will ever remain a lasting proof of his splendid talents, both as an accurate observer of nature, and diligent antiquary.

Several of his works were translated into German, and other Continental languages; and he was frequently consulted by the great naturalists of his time, and his opinions recorded in their publications. His accounts have always been looked upon as most authentic; and he holds the first rank as a writer from the popular and interesting style of his narrative, and his incomparable skill in the selection of subjects for ill.u.s.tration.

He may be esteemed as one of the greatest patrons of the art of engraving, for upwards of one thousand plates were used in the embellishment of his works. He ended an active and useful life at the family seat of Downing, near Holywell, in December, 1798.

_Sir Thomas Picton_, a British general, was born at Poyston, Pembrokes.h.i.+re, in 1758. Having entered the army, he served with great reputation in the West Indies; and his skill and gallantry were conspicuously displayed in a long service of forty-five years, both there, and in the marshes of Holland, and in the peninsula of Spain and Portugal. On the morning of the battle of Waterloo, he fell gloriously leading his division to a charge of bayonets, by which one of the most serious attacks made by the enemy was defeated. After his death a wound was discovered, which he had received two days before, and which he heroically concealed, having dressed it himself only with a piece of torn handkerchief. He died greatly lamented, and his meritorious life was distinguished for his zeal in the service of his country.

_Henry Parry_ was born in Flints.h.i.+re. He was educated at Gloucester Hall, Oxford, where he took his degrees in arts, and his degree of B.D., at Jesus College, in 1597. He travelled much abroad, and on his return, he obtained the rectory of Rhoscolyn, in Anglesea, in 1601, and in 1612 he was installed canon of Bangor. He died in 1617. He augmented and published a "Welsh Rhetoric, or Egluryn Fraethineb," which was originally written by William Salusbury, and is commended by Dr. Davies.

_Hester Lynch Piozzi_, was the daughter of John Salusbury, of Bodvel, in Caernarvons.h.i.+re. She was a distinguished auth.o.r.ess, and well known as a friend of Johnson, who made a Tour in Wales on a visit to her. She was first married, in 1763, to Mr. Thrale, member of parliament for Southwark, and after his death, she became the wife of Signor Piozzi, a Florentine. Her works are rather numerous, but the best known perhaps are her "Anecdotes of Johnson," with whom she was a great favourite until her second marriage. She died a widow, at Clifton, in 1821, at a very advanced age.

_David Powel_, D.D., was a native of Denbighs.h.i.+re. In 1568 he was sent to be educated at Oxford, and after the erection of Jesus College, in 1571, he removed thither, and having proceeded through his bachelor's degree, he graduated M.A. in 1576. Having taken orders, he obtained the livings of Rhiwabon and Llanvyllin, and became a prebendary of St. Asaph; in 1584 he was appointed chaplain to Sir Henry Sidney, then president of Wales. His first work, "Caradog's History of Wales," quarto, appeared in 1584, which had been partly translated from the Welsh by Humphrey Llwyd, and was finished by Powel, who ill.u.s.trated it with annotations. This was followed in the following year by "Pontici Virunii Historia Britannica,"

octavo. He was also author of "De Britannica Historia recte intelligenda Epistola ad Gul. Fleetwood, Civ. Lond. Recordatorem." He is said to have undertaken the compilation of a Welsh Dictionary, but he died before it was completed, which event took place in 1598.

_John Price_ was born of Welsh parents in London, in the year 1600. He was educated at Westminster School, and Christ Church, Oxford, whence he removed to Florence, having become a Catholic, and he was there admitted doctor of civil law. He held the appointment of keeper of the ducal cabinet of medals and antiquities, and subsequently he became professor of Greek at Pisa. He was a very ingenious and learned critic, as his "Commentaries on the New Testament" and "Notes on Apuleius" testify. He died at a convent, in Rome, in the year 1676.

_Richard Price_, D.D., was a native of Glamorgans.h.i.+re, and was born at Llangunnor in 1723. He was educated at Talgarth, and afterwards removed to a Presbyterian academy in London. He became pastor of a congregation at Hackney; and in 1769 he was complimented with the diploma of doctor in divinity by the University of Glasgow. He was the author of several mathematical, statistical, and political works; and for one of them he was presented with a gold snuff-box, containing a vote of thanks by the corporation of London. He was also fellow of the Royal Society, in whose Transactions he wrote several papers. He died in 1791.

_Sir John Price_, L.L.D., was a native of Brecons.h.i.+re. He was a learned and ingenious antiquary, and was author of "Historiae Britannicae Defensio," quarto, which was written in answer to Polydore Virgil, and was published after his death by his son, in 1573. He was one of the King's council in the court of the marches, and was one of the commissioners employed by Henry the Eighth, to survey the monasteries that were to be dissolved. He died in 1553.

_Robert Price_, D.D., an eminent prelate, was the son of Colonel Price, of Rhiwlas, in Meirioneths.h.i.+re, where he was born. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and after taking orders, was for some time vicar of Towyn, in Meirioneths.h.i.+re, and afterwards chancellor of the diocese of Bangor. He was promoted to the bishopric of Ferns, in Ireland; and on the death of Bishop Roberts, in 1665, he was nominated to succeed him in the see of Bangor; but his death took place before his election was completed, and he was buried in the cathedral church of St. Patrick, Dublin.

_Rees Prichard_, the celebrated author of "Canwyll y Cymry," was born at Llanymddyvri, Caermarthens.h.i.+re. At the age of eighteen, he was entered at Jesus College, Oxford, in 1597, and graduated B.A. in 1602, and obtained the vicarage of his own parish. In 1613 he was inst.i.tuted to the rectory of Llanedy, in the diocese of St. David's; and he was chaplain to the Earl of Ess.e.x. In the following year he was made prebendary of the collegiate church of Brecon, and in 1626 chancellor of St. David's. As long as the Welsh language endures, will the memory of Prichard be kept with grat.i.tude; and few productions ever caused such a profitable and rapid change in improving the morals of his countrymen.

He died in 1644.

_Edmund Prys_, M.A., a distinguished Welsh poet, was born in the year 1541. After an academical education, he entered the church, and in 1572 he was made rector of Festiniog, and in 1576 archdeacon of Meirioneth.

In 1602 he obtained a canonry in St. Asaph. He was a very learned man, and particularly distinguished himself by an elegant metrical version of the Psalms, which is still in use. There are also extant fifty-four controversial poems between the Archdeacon and a contemporary Bard, William Cynwal, both holding a high rank in the first cla.s.s of the Welsh poets of that age. It is also said that Cynwal fell a victim to the poignancy of the Archdeacon's satire. The last poem of the fifty-four is a most pathetic elegy, composed by Prys when the news of his rival's death reached him; he was also an elegant Latin poet, and a specimen of his talent is prefixed to Dr. Davies's Welsh and Latin Grammar. He died at Maentwrog about the year 1622.

_Abraham Rees_, D.D., the author of the well known Cyclopaedia, which bears his name, was born at Montgomery, in 1743. His father being a Dissenting minister, placed him first under Dr. Jenkins, of Caermarthen, and subsequently at the Hoxton Academy, where his brilliant talents and rapid progress procured his being appointed at an early age mathematical tutor to the inst.i.tution, and afterwards resident tutor, which place he retained for twenty-two years. He then removed, and became resident tutor of the Natural Sciences at the Dissenting Academy at Hackney, in 1786. He was minister of a Dissenting congregation in St. Thomas's, Southwark, and in the Old Jewry. He was a fellow of the Royal and Linnean Societies, and he obtained his doctor's degree in Edinburgh, at the express recommendation of the ill.u.s.trious Robertson, the historian.

He was author of some other works, besides the valuable and learned "Cyclopaedia." He died in June, 1825, in his eighty-second year.

_John Davydd Rhys_, M.D., an eminent grammarian, was born in the Isle of Anglesea, in 1534. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and entered the medical profession; he removed to Sienna, where he took his doctor's degree. While there, he greatly distinguished himself by his skill in the Italian language, the fruits of which are "De Italicae linguae p.r.o.nunciatione," which was printed in Padua, and "Rules for obtaining the Latin tongue," printed at Venice, in Italian. His valuable "Welsh Grammar" was published in 1592, folio. His death took place in the year 1609.

_Peter Roberts_, an eminent divine, and writer on British history, was born at Rhiwabon, Denbighs.h.i.+re, in 1760. He was educated at the Grammar-school of St. Asaph, and removed thence to Trinity College, Dublin, where his abilities soon became conspicuous. He applied himself to the study of astronomy and the oriental languages; and at one time it was supposed that he would have succeeded Dr. Usher, as professor of astronomy in that University. He became afterwards private tutor to several n.o.blemen and gentlemen of rank; and in 1800, was published, his "Harmony of the Epistles," a work of exceedingly high character and labour, which the University of Cambridge printed at their own expense.

Having been presented to the living of Llanarmon, he dedicated his leisure time to the elucidation of the antiquities of his native country.

The fruits of his labours in this department are well known-"Collectanea Cambrica," "Early History of the Cymry," and "Cambrian Popular Antiquities." He was presented also with the living of Madely, in Shrops.h.i.+re, by Lord Crew. The living of Llanarmon he subsequently exchanged for the rectory of Halkin, Flints.h.i.+re, where he died in 1819.

As an excellent critic in his native language, and equally so in Hebrew and Rabbinical learning, his works are a sufficient proof; and his "Letters to Volney" show to advantage the depth of his reasoning powers and scientific acquirements.

_William Roberts_, D.D., was a native of Denbighs.h.i.+re, where he was born in 1585. He was educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, where he became fellow, and subsequently sub-dean of Wells, and rector of Llandyrnog. He was made bishop of Bangor in 1637. During the great rebellion he suffered much for his loyalty, and was deprived of all his benefices, and all the church lands were sequestered; but, however, he was restored to all in 1660. He was a great benefactor to his cathedral, in which he erected an organ, and bequeathed money for beautifying it. He founded an exhibition for a scholar from the diocese of Bangor, in Queen's College, Cambridge, and a similar one in Jesus College, Oxford. He left also 200_l._ to be distributed among two parishes in the suburbs of London, which were visited by the plague. He died near Denbigh, in the year 1665.

_Nicholas Robinson_ was a native of Aberconwy, in Caernarvons.h.i.+re, and was educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellows.h.i.+p, and was appointed chaplain to Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was made dean of Bangor in 1556, and obtained the sinecure rectory of Northop, in Flints.h.i.+re, in 1562, and he was likewise archdeacon of Meirioneth. In 1566 he was raised to the bishopric of Bangor; and he held the living of Whitney, in Oxfords.h.i.+re, in commendam.

He died in 1585.

_Henry Rowlands_, D.D., was born in Mellteyrn, in Caernarvons.h.i.+re, in 1551, and was educated at New College, Oxford. He obtained the rectory of his native parish in 1572, and subsequently of Launton, in Oxfords.h.i.+re. He was advanced to the deanery of Bangor in 1593, and was consecrated bishop of the same diocese in 1598. He was a most munificent benefactor to his cathedral, and bestowed great sums in improving and adorning it. He also founded two fellows.h.i.+ps in Jesus College, Oxford; and bequeathed money for the foundation of a school in his native place.

He died in 1616.

_Henry Rowlands_, B.A., the author of the valuable and learned work ent.i.tled "Mona Antiqua Restaurata," was a native of the Isle of Anglesea.

Having taken orders, he became vicar of Llanidan. He devoted his leisure time to the examination of the antiquities which abound in his native island; and his researches afford important information concerning the language and manners of the Cymmry. He endeavours to prove that Mon was the metropolitan seat of the Druids; and his work first appeared in 1723, and a second edition was published in London, in 1766. He died in 1722.

_Grufydd Roberts_, a learned grammarian, distinguished himself by the publication of a valuable "Welsh Grammar," which was printed at Milan, in 1567. Nothing is known of his history, besides that he was educated at Sienna, in Italy, under the patronage of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.

_William Salusbury_, an eminent antiquary, was a native of Denbighs.h.i.+re, where he was born in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was educated at Oxford, and entered the profession of the law. He a.s.sisted in translating the New Testament into Welsh, and he published also a Welsh version of the "Epistles and Gospels," besides a "Dictionary," and a "Treatise on Rhetoric." He died in 1570.

_George Stepney_, whose parents were of old families in Pembrokes.h.i.+re, was born in 1663. Having been entered on the foundation of Westminster School, he removed in due time to Trinity College, Cambridge, and while there, he acquired the friends.h.i.+p of Mr. Montague, afterwards Earl of Halifax, and through his patronage he was employed by government on several important and confidential missions to the courts of Brandenburgh, Vienna, Dresden, Mentz, and Cologne, and to the congress of Frankfort. He was again employed on an emba.s.sy to Holland in 1706; and after completing it successfully, he returned to England in the following year, and a few months after he died in Chelsea, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. He was a very ingenious poet, and ranked high as a political writer; several of his works obtained for him great credit.

_Charles Symmons_, D.D., was born in Caerdigan, in the year 1749, which borough was represented by his father in three successive parliaments.

He was educated at Westminster School, and the University of Glasgow, whence he subsequently removed to Clare Hall, Cambridge, and in 1776 he took the degree of bachelor of divinity at that University. Having given offence by declaring some Whiggish principles in a sermon, which destroyed all his prospects of promotion, and fearing some obstacles when he proceeded to his doctor's degree, he removed to Jesus College, Oxford, where he took it in 1794. He was presented to the living of Narberth and Lanpeter. As an author, the greater portion of his works consisted of poetry, and he published "Milton's prose works, with a Biographical Memoir." He died at Bath, in 1826.

_William Thomas_ was born in Wales, and was educated at Oxford, where he took the degree of bachelor of canon law in 1529. Being obliged for some cause to leave the kingdom, he travelled in Italy; and on his return to England, he published a "History" of that country, in 1549, quarto. He was appointed clerk of the council to King Edward the Sixth, who bestowed upon him, though a layman, a prebend in St. Paul's Cathedral, and a living in Wales. On the accession of Queen Mary, he was deprived of his office and benefices, which treatment is supposed to have instigated him to join in the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt, for which he was arrested, and being convicted, was executed at Tyburn. He was also author of several less important works.

_William Thomas_, D.D., was a native of South Wales, where he was born in 1613. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, where he proceeded through his degrees. Having taken orders, he became vicar of Penbryn, in the time of the great rebellion. On the Restoration, he was appointed precentor of St. David's, and rector of Llanbedr, in Pembrokes.h.i.+re, and subsequently dean of Worcester. He was consecrated bishop of St. David's in 1677, and in 1683 he was translated to Worcester, where he died in 1689.

_Josiah Tucker_, D.D., an eminent political writer, was the son of a Welsh gentleman of property, and was born in 1711. He was educated at St. John's College, Oxford, and entered into holy orders, being appointed to the curacy of All Saints, Bristol; he afterwards became chaplain to Dr. Butler, bishop of that diocese, by whom he was appointed to the rectory of St. Stephen's, in the same city. He was author of numerous political and controversial essays, some sermons, and a mult.i.tude of treatises, and publications on commerce and religion. He obtained a prebend in Bristol Cathedral, and the deanery of Gloucester, in 1758. He died of an attack of paralysis at the advanced age of eighty-eight, in the year 1799.

_William Tyndale_, the first translator of the Holy Scriptures into the English language, was born in Wales, in 1500, and after a learned education, he was entered at Magdalen Hall, Oxford; he was afterwards a canon of Wolsey's New College of Christ's Church, whence he was ejected on account of his religious principles, which were liberal, and according with the doctrines of Luther, who began to flourish at that time. He took a degree in Cambridge, whither he had removed from Oxford; but his opinions becoming known, rendered him obnoxious to some of the dignitaries, and being reprimanded, he thought it prudent to retire to the Continent, in order to publish his translation of the Testament, which appeared in 1526, and was printed at Antwerp. He commenced afterwards the translation of the Pentateuch, and some other books of the Old Testament; but his first publication, of which a second edition was widely diffused over England, caused him to be marked as a victim to Popish bigotry. Henry the Eighth employed a man to betray him to the Emperor, and by his decree he was burnt as a heretic at Augsburgh in 1536. He was author of some other works; and his Testament hath by many eminent divines been declared never to have been surpa.s.sed in clearness, and n.o.ble simplicity of style.

_Henry Vaughan_, commonly known by his a.s.sumed name of the Silurist, was born at Newton, in Brecknocks.h.i.+re, in the year 1621. He received his academical education at Jesus College, Oxford, and afterwards settled in his native country, where he practised medicine, although he does not appear to have taken any degree in arts or medicine at the University.

His writings consist of a poem ent.i.tled "The Mount of Olives," "Thalia Rediviva," "Olor Isca.n.u.s," and "Silex Scintillans, or The Bleeding Heart." He died in 1695, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

_Thomas Vaughan_ was the brother of the above (Henry), and a fellow of Jesus College. He was a man of great natural abilities as well as learning; he was chiefly known from some curious "Treatises on Alchymy and Judicial Astrology," to which, although a clergyman, he seems to have been devoted. According to Wood's Athenae Oxonenses, he had sense enough not to publish them in his in own name, but under the a.s.sumed name of Eugenius Philalethes; they are, however, now forgotten. He died rector of St. Bridget's, Brecknocks.h.i.+re.

_Sir John Vaughan_, an eminent and learned chief justice of Common Pleas, was born in Caerdigans.h.i.+re, in 1608. He was educated at Worcester School, whence he removed to Christ Church, Oxford, and subsequently to the Inner Temple. During the civil wars he lived in retirement; but after the Restoration he was elected member of parliament for the county of Caerdigan, and in 1668 made chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas. His death took place in 1674. Sir John Vaughan's "Reports and Arguments" in the Common Pleas are all special cases, and ably reported.

They were first printed in 1677, and again by his son, Edward Vaughan, in 1706.

_Richard Vaughan_, D.D., an eminent and learned prelate, was born in Caernarvons.h.i.+re, and received his academical education at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated. Having entered the church, he became archdeacon of Middles.e.x, and obtained also a canonry in Wells Cathedral, and in 1595 he was raised to the bishopric of Bangor. Two years after, he was translated to the see of Chester, and thence to London, where he died in 1607.

_Robert Vaughan_, a distinguished and learned antiquary, was a member of a very ancient family in Meirioneths.h.i.+re, and was born at the family seat of Hengwrt, in that county. From all his ample materials, he only published a small tract ent.i.tled "British Antiquities Revived." He formed a n.o.ble and invaluable collection of Welsh ma.n.u.scripts, which still remain at Hengwrt. He died in 1667.

_William Vaughan_, an ingenious Welsh poet, was a member of a very ancient and ill.u.s.trious family, who have lived for several centuries successively at Golden Grove, in Caermarthens.h.i.+re. He was born in 1577, and having gone through the usual course of academical education at Jesus College, Oxford, took the degree of L.L.D. in that University. He was the author of a variety of miscellaneous poems, the princ.i.p.al of which are a metrical version of the "Psalms and Solomon's Song," "The Golden Grove Moralized," &c. Previously to his decease, he went to Newfoundland, where he died in 1640.

_John Walters_, M.A., an eminent Welsh philologist and divine, was the author of a valuable "English and Welsh Dictionary," which was published in quarto, in 1794. It has since gone through two other editions, and he wrote a learned "Dissertation on the Welsh Language," printed in 1771, besides some sermons. He was rector of Llandochan, in Glamorgan, and died in the year 1797.

_Daniel Williams_, an eminent theological writer, and Presbyterian divine, was a native of Wrexham, in Denbighs.h.i.+re, where he was born in 1644. Not having received an education in his earlier youth, he made up the deficiency by his unwearied diligence and application; and devoting himself to the study of divinity, he was, at the age of nineteen, ordained a preacher among the Presbyterians. After officiating in various parts in England, he went to Ireland as chaplain to the Countess of Meath, and presided over a congregation in Dublin, where he continued for twenty years; and married a lady of an honourable family, and a considerable estate. He subsequently removed to London, where he was chosen minister of a congregation of Presbyterians in Bishopsgate-street; and in 1701, having become a widower, he married a second wife, who survived him. His learning and piety being held in great esteem, he was honoured with the diploma of D.D. by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow; and he bequeathed estates for the support of six Presbyterian students in the latter. His library, together with a sum of money for its increase, was left by him, with the liberal view of founding a public library in London, and which led to the establishment of the celebrated Red cross street Inst.i.tution, which was opened in 1729. He died in 1716, and left numerous legacies for charitable purposes. His works were published in six volumes, octavo.

_David Williams_, a learned and ingenious writer, was born in Cardigans.h.i.+re. Having been educated at a Dissenting Academy, he was appointed minister of a congregation at Frome, Somersets.h.i.+re, and afterwards at Exeter, then at Highgate, near London. While in the metropolis, he distinguished himself by numerous publications on education and morality. He left his ministerial office among the Dissenters, and becoming sceptical with regard to the Christian religion, he opened in 1776, a chapel for the celebration of public wors.h.i.+p, on the principles of natural religion, in Margaret-street, Cavendish-square.

The novelty of the inst.i.tution at first attracted the curiosity of the public, but it was finally closed, and the lecturer turned his attention to private tuition. He has obtained great and deserved reputation as being the founder of the Literary Fund. He died in June, 1816. Among his numerous works, several of which have been translated into German, is a valuable "History of Monmouths.h.i.+re," in two volumes, quarto.

_Edward Williams_, whose bardic appellation was Iolo Morganwg, was a native of Glamorgans.h.i.+re, where he was born in March, 1745. His father being a stone-mason, brought him up to the same trade; but even in his early youth he was remarkable for avoiding all diversions with boys of his own age, and was pensive and thoughtful, eager in receiving the instructions of an excellent mother, who grounded him well in the English language. In 1770, on the death of his mother, he left Wales, and travelled over several counties in England, in the exercise of his calling, and studying architecture and other sciences connected with it.

He resided for several years in London, Bristol, and other towns, and returned to Wales, where he married in 1781. His first productions were Welsh poetry, and he was a man of wonderful abilities as a Welsh and English poet, and a skilful antiquary; he wrote English with great ease and elegance. In 1794 he published two volumes of English poetry, which consist of original compositions, and translations from the Welsh, and in conjunction with Dr. Pughe and Mr Owain Jones, edited the "Myvyrian Archaiology." He has left several valuable works in ma.n.u.script, especially materials for a History of Wales, which it is greatly to be lamented was not published in his lifetime. He died on the 17th of December, 1827, aged eighty-two.

_Griffith Williams_ was a native of Caernarvon, in North Wales, where he was born in the year 1589. He was educated at Jesus' College, Cambridge, and having taken orders, he was appointed to the lectures.h.i.+p of St.

Peter's, Cheapside, but his preaching so offended the Puritans, that they procured his suspension. He obtained a living in Wales, and became chaplain to the King, prebendary of Westminster, and dean of Bangor. In 1641 he was created bishop of Ossory; and his death took place at Kilkenny. He was the author of several works on divinity.

_John Williams_, Archbishop of York, and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, was born at Aberconwy, in 1582. He was educated at Ruthin School, and St. John's College, Cambridge, where he soon distinguished himself by his application and splendid abilities, which were rewarded with a fellows.h.i.+p. He was ordained in 1609, and soon after he obtained the rectory of Grafton, in Northamptons.h.i.+re. Being appointed chaplain to Lord Ellesmere, then Lord Chancellor, he ingratiated himself so much with his patron by his talents, that he obtained through him rapid preferments, and was appointed one of the royal chaplains. In 1619 he was made dean of Salisbury, and soon after exchanged it for the deanery of Westminster; in a short time he was appointed lord keeper, and immediately afterwards he was raised to the bishopric of Lincoln. He retained great influence at court during the reign of James the First, and was the chief cause of the promotion of Laud to the episcopal bench, who, however, ungratefully joined in various persecutions to which the Archbishop was subjected for several years; but his worth and excellent character prevailed: he was restored to favour, and in 1641 he was raised to the archiepiscopal see of York. During the civil war, he fortified Conwy Castle for the King's use; but after a seige, being surprised, he was compelled to give it up on honourable terms to the parliamentary troops. He died at Gloddaeth, near Conwy, on his birth-day, in 1650. He was the author of several theological works, and an interesting "History of his Life" was published by Bishop Hacket, who had been his chaplain; and a more condensed biography subsequently by Stephens, and also by Phillips.

_John Williams_, L.L.D., was born at Llanbedr-pont Stephen in 1727. He was educated at the Grammar School of the same town, where he acquired a competent knowledge of the cla.s.sics; being strongly inclined to the ministry, he was entered at the age of nineteen at a Dissenting Academy, in Caermarthen, where he went through the usual studies to be qualified for the office of a minister. In 1752 he went to Stamford, Lincolns.h.i.+re, at the unanimous request of a congregation of Protestant Dissenters, and in 1755 he removed to a similar situation in Berks.h.i.+re. Here he completed his "Concordance to the Greek New Testament," and afterwards he removed to Sydenham, where he officiated for the long period of twenty-eight years. In 1777 he was chosen the curator of Redcross-street Library; and the lease of his chapel expiring, he retired to Islington, where he remained until his death, which took place in 1798. In his character, both public and private, he was esteemed for the conscientious discharge of his duty as a Christian minister, and for his literary acquirements. He published several works on theology and other subjects, which are of great merit, and enriched with valuable information.