John Edward Lloyd

“ Having begun with the antiquities of Wales, Allen from 1880 gave special attention to those of Scotland also ; in 1883 he was elected fellow of the Scottish Society of Antiquaries, and in 1885 was Rhind lecturer in archaeology in the University of Edinburgh. In England, he became F.S.A. in 1896, editor of the 'Reliquary and Illustrated Archæologist' in 1893; and Yates lecturer in archæology in University College, London, for 1898. Allen had in a high degree the patience, thoroughness, and insight of the scientific archæologist. ”

“ The first eisteddfod he attended was that of Aberffraw in 1849, when he was admitted to the ‘gorsedd,’ or bardic guild, and won a minor poetic prize. He won his first bardic chair in 1855 at Llanfair Talhaiarn, Denbighshire, for an ode on ‘The Exit of Israel from Egypt,’ and in the same year carried off a second chair at Llanfachreth, Anglesey, for an ode on ‘The Poet.’ The highest bardic distinction, the chair of the national eisteddfod, first fell to him in 1862, when his ode on ‘The Year’ was successful at Carnarvon. ”

“ In 1873 he published a life of his ancestor, the first baron Kenyon (1732-1802) . His chief interest was the promotion of secondary and higher education in Wales, and to his enlightened zeal was largely due the passing of the Welsh Intermediate Education Act of 1889, which established the present comprehensive system of secondary schools in Wales. The bill was introduced by Stuart (afterwards Lord) Rondel, the leader of the Welsh liberal members. But the conservatives were in power, and it was Kenyon's influence which secured its passage, with some slight changes. ”

“ ROWLANDS, DAVID, 'Dewi Mon' (1836–1907) , Welsh scholar and poet, son of John and Margaret Rowlands, was born on 4 March 1836 at Geufron, Rhosybol, Anglesey. Two years later, his father moved to the farm at Ty Cristion, Bodedern. After a village education he was apprenticed at thirteen, and spent some time in shops at Holyhead and Hatfield. But at the instance of the Rev. W. Griffith, Holyhead, he became an independent preacher, and in 1853 entered Bala Congregational College. ”

“ He became a congregational church member in 1860, at a time of revival, began to preach in 1862, and, after a short preparatory course under Henry Oliver at Pontypridd, entered Brecon College in 1863. In July 1867 he was ordained to the congregational ministry at Bodringallt, in the Rhondda valley, where he was active in establishing new churches among a rapidly growing colliery population. ”

“ WILLIAMS, WATKIN HEZEKIAH (1844–1905) , Welsh schoolmaster and poet, born on 7 March 1844 at his mother's home at Ddolgam, in the Llynfell valley, Carmarthenshire, was son of Hezekiah and Ann Williams his wife. He was brought up, the second of a family of ten, on his father's farm of Cwmgarw Ganol, near Brynaman. At an early age he found employment in the coal mines then being opened up in the district, and he worked, chiefly as a collier, with occasional periods of attendance at various local schools, until the age of twenty-seven. ”

“ John's, Cardiff, where his abilities found a congenial field; he endeavoured to adapt the machinery of the church to the needs of a rapidly growing community, and raised no less than 30,000l. for the purpose. In 1875 he was elected a member of the first Cardiff school board. In this year he became vicar of Wrexham, where he remained until 1891, when he removed to the neighbouring vicarage of Gresford. At Wrexham, as at Cardiff, he greatly extended the activities of the church. ”

“ FOULKES, ISAAC (1836–1904) , Welsh author and editor, born in 1836 at the farm of Cwrt, Llanfwrog, Denbighshire, was son of Peter Foulkes by his wife Frances. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to Isaac Clarke, printer, Ruthin; in 1857 he entered the office of the 'Amserau' newspaper in Liverpool, and soon afterwards set up a printing business of his own in that city, which he conducted until his death. ”

“ Thence he went in 1856 to New College, London; he returned to Bala in 1857 for a year as assistant-tutor, and in 1858 became a member of the Congregational College at Brecon, graduating B.A. at London University in 1860. His first pastorate was at Llanbrynmair (1861–6) ”