Richard Wilson (1712/13–1782)

Richard Wilson, landscape painter, was born in Penegoes, Montgomeryshire, the son of a local parson. Sir George Wynne, a family friend, recognised his talent for drawing and painting, and arranged for him to study in London under the supervision of the portraitist Thomas Wright.

In 1750, Wilson moved to Italy, where his style developed significantly. He became popular as a portrait painter, with affluent clients. In Italy, the landscape painter Francesco Zuccarelli encouraged Wilson’s efforts in landscape painting, which became his strength.

On his return to Britain in 1757, Wilson became a highly regarded and successful landscape painter. His most prolific period was between 1760 and 1768, culminating in his involvement of the founding of the Royal Academy. Wilson’s fortunes declined after this period, and he became impoverished. He returned to Wales in 1781, settling in Mold.

Although his reputation had waned by the time of his death, his profound influence on many artists, including J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, has since been realised. Some of his most important works include ‘The view near Wynnstay,’ 'Snowdon from Llyn Nantlle' and 'Llyn Peris and Dolbadarn Castle.'

Joseph Parry (1841-1903)

Joseph Parry was a highly productive composer, and predominant figure in the Welsh musical life of his day. He is especially well-known for being the composer of some of Wales’ most well-known hymn-tunes such as ‘Aberystwyth’ and ‘Myfanwy.’ He also composed several operas, oratorios, cantatas and piano works.

He was born in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, and spent his early childhood there. When he was 13 years old, the family moved to America, and settled in Danville, Pensylvania. His successes in composition in the National Eisteddfod of Wales (1863-4) stimulated public support for him, and a fund was raised to enable him to study at the Royal Academy of Music (1868-1871). 

In 1872, he moved to Aberystwyth , and between 1874 and 1880 was Professor of Music at the towns University College. In 1878, he received a doctorate in Music from Cambridge, and from 1888 onwards he held the post of Lecturer in Music at the University College, Cardiff.

Adelina Patti (1843-1919)

Adelina Patti was one of the most well-known opera singers of the 19th century. She was born in Madrid to Italian parents, and raised in New York. She made her operatic debut at the Academy of Music, New York in 1859, aged 16, where she performed the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. In 1861, she took the soprano role of Amina in Bellini’s La Sonnambula in Covent Garden, which demonstrated her outstanding talent.

She furthered her career by performing on an international level, became highly successful, and was adored by her audiences. She built a 150-seat theatre at her house ‘Craig-y-Nos’ in the Upper Swansea Valley and conducted many private concerts there, performing long after her official retirement.

She produced approximately 30 gramophone recordings of songs and operatic arias at her home during 1905 and 1906, which have since been remastered and reissued on CD.

Dylan Thomas (1914-1953)

Dylan Marlais Thomas, poet and prose writer, was born in Swansea in 1914. After receiving his formal education here, he worked, for a period, as  a reporter for the South Wales Daily Post. He established himself as a poetry writer with his publication of 18 Poems in 1934. This publication was followed by Twenty-five poems in 1936, and The map of love in 1939.

He married Caitlin Macnamara in 1937 and moved to Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, the village which is strongly linked with his name, and which was a profound influence on his writing. After the outbreak of the Second World War, Thomas spent much of his time in London and began to write radio scripts for the BBC, participating in broadcast talks and readings.  From 1944 he worked intermittently on a radio ‘play for voices’ about a Welsh seaside village, and in its first form it was called Quite Early One Morning. Thomas expanded it into Under Milk Wood, completing it in Spring 1953. 

He lived in Llangain and New Quay, West Wales, towards the end of the war,  and enjoyed a period of heightened creativity. Two of the poems he wrote during this time were Poem in October celebrating his thirtieth year, and Fern Hill focusing on the Carmarthenshire farm and his childhood. The main themes of Dylan Thomas' poetry were nostalgia, life, death and lost innocence. He often wrote about his past as a boy or as a young man. Wales, its landscape and people, became a fundamental part of his writing.

Thomas accepted an invitation to visit America in 1950, and further visits of a few months at a time followed. He carried out readings in New York and in University campuses across the country. His heavy drinking led to major health problems, and he died at the age of 39 in New York.

Ebenezer Thomas ‘Eben Fardd’ (1802-1863)

Ebenezer Thomas, or ‘Eben Fardd’ as he was more popularly known, was regarded in his day as one of Wales’ foremost poets. He was born in the parish of Llanarmon, Caernarfonshire, and was educated in several schools in the county. With the death of his brother, William, in 1822, Thomas took over the school kept by him at Llangybi, Caernarfonshire. He later took over further schools within the county in Llanarmon (1825) and Clynnog (1827).

His first success as a poet was at the Powis Eisteddfod, held in Welshpool in 1824, with the ode ‘Dinystr Jerusalem.’ His second eisteddfod success took place in Liverpool, in 1840, when he was awarded a prize for his ode ‘Cystudd, Amynedd ac Adferiad Job.’ In the following year, both these odes appeared, with some other material, in the volume Caniadau. His third and final eisteddfod success was in 1858, at Llangollen Eisteddfod with his ode ‘Maes Bosworth.’

In addition to his more well-known eisteddfodic compositions, he wrote many hymns, a collection of which was published in 1862. He also contributed extensively to the periodicals of the time, and adjudicated many poetry competitions. His collected works were published under the title Gweithiau barddonol Eben Fardd (1875).

His poetic success placed him at the centre of literary activity during the first half of the 19th century.

Bibliography

• BBC website, ‘Adelina Patti’
• BBC website, ‘Dr Joseph Parry’
• ‘Dylan Marlais Thomas (1914-1953)’ Walford Davies, Dictionary of Welsh Biography, National Library of Wales, 2001; online edn, 2007.
• McGovern, Una (ed.), 2002. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. 7th edition. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap.
• ‘Ebenezer Thomas (Eben Fardd; 1802-1863)’ Thomas Parry, Dictionary of Welsh Biography, National Library of Wales, 1959; online edn, 2007.
• Turner, Jane (ed.), 1996. The dictionary of art. Basingstoke : Macmillan.

David Lloyd George (1863 -1945)

David Lloyd George, statesman, was born in Manchester in 1863. His father died the year after he was born, and his mother moved with the children to live with her brother Richard Lloyd (1834-1917) in Llanystumdwy, North Wales. Lloyd George was educated at the National School here, and after leaving in 1878 at the age of fifteen, he became connected to a solicitor’s firm near Porthmadog. In 1884 he passed the Law Society final examinations with honours and set up a practice of his own in Cricieth where he earned himself a reputation as a strong advocate and powerful speaker.

In 1890, he was elected Liberal Candidate for the Caernarfonshire Boroughs. Initially as a member of Parliament, his attention and concern was with Wales, primarily with the governments attitude to Welsh disestablishment and land reform. He was a prominent campaigner for the Cymru Fydd Movement, its main objective to gain self-government for Wales.

He became President of the Board of Trade in 1905, when the Liberals came into power, and proved himself with his exceptional administrative and mediatory abilities. In April 1908, when H. H. Asquith became Prime Minister, Lloyd George succeeded him as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He introduced his controversial first budget in 1909, which was rejected by the Lords. In 1911, he successfully introduced a National Insurance Bill, which included both health and unemployment insurance.  When the First World War broke out in 1914 he had the challenging task of stabilising the country’s finances. With the formation of the first Coalition Government in May 1915, he became Minister of Munitions, and on the death of Lord Kitchener in May 1916, he became his successor as Secretary for War. 

In December 1916, H. H. Asquith resigned, and Lloyd George became Prime Minister, guiding the country through the remaining war years. One of his most significant acts during this time was the establishment of unity of command of the allied forces. After the war ended, he was a prominent figure in the Peace Conference, held in Paris, in 1919. In 1921, he carried through the Anglo-Irish Treaty, after lengthy negotiations. When, in 1922, the Conservative members of the government decided to resign, therefore making it impossible to continue the Coalition, Lloyd George also resigned as Prime Minister.

He remained politically active for many years, but did not hold office again. He published his War Memoirs in 1938. In the final year of his life, he was made 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor and Viscount Gwynedd. He died at Llanystumdwy and was buried above the river Dwyfor.

Lloyd George was married twice; firstly  to Margaret Owen, in 1888, which produced five children. Secondly in 1843, to his longstanding secretary  and mistress, Frances Stevenson. Two of his children, Gwilym and Megan, followed their father into politics.

Angharad Llwyd (1780 -1866)

Angharad Llwyd was a Welsh antiquary and prize-winner at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. She was born at Caerwys, Flintshire, her father being the notable antiquarian and Rector of Caerwys, Rev. John Lloyd (1733-1793).

Her essay entitled ‘Catalogue of Welsh Manuscripts, etc. in North Wales,’ won her a prize at the Welshpool Eisteddfod, 1824. She edited a revised version of Sir John Wynn’s The History of the Gwydir Family in 1827. Her most notable work The History of the Island of Mona (1832), won first prize at Beaumaris Eisteddfod, in 1832. She was a member of the London Cymmrodorion Society.

William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898)

William Ewart Gladstone, prime minister and author, was born in Liverpool in 1809, the fifth child of Sir John Gladstone, first baronet (1764-1851) and his second wife Anne, née Robertson (1771/2-1835). His father was a MP and successful merchant.  He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. At the Oxford Union Debating Society he developed a reputation as a fine speaker.

He became a member of parliament for Newark in 1832, as a Conservative. He made an impression, and after several junior appointments under the Prime Minister, Robert Peel, he was appointed President of the Board of Trade in 1843. He was slowly moving towards liberalism, and when the Conservatives separated in 1846, he became a Liberal-Conservative. He went through a period of political detachment between 1846 and 1859, although he became Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Aberdeen’s coalition government, a position he would ultimately hold three times.

He joined the Liberals in 1859 and became, as leader of the Liberal Party, Prime Minister in 1868. Under his government, a system of national education  was established. He made major reforms in the justice system and the civil service. In 1869 he disestablished and disendowed the Irish Protestant  Church, and passed the Irish Land Act which aimed to control unreasonable landlords. Gladstone was defeated in the 1874 general election, and his arch-rival  Benjamin Disraeli became Conservative Prime Minister. Gladstone retired as leader of the Liberal leader, but continued to be a challenging government opponent.

In 1880, the Liberals came into power again with an overwhelming majority, and Gladstone became Prime Minister once more. He was successful in carrying out a scheme of parliamentary reform, which went a long way towards universal male suffrage. His slow reaction to certain imperial issues affected his reputation, and in 1885 the government’s budget was defeated, prompting him to resign.

Gladstone’s third (1886) and fourth (1892-1894) terms as prime minister were dominated by his crusade for a Home Rule bill for Ireland, an issue he tried to resolve during his period out of office. His attempts to introduce the bill split his party, and was rejected. After an appeal to the country, he was defeated at the polls. In 1893, after his final return to office, the Home Rule Bill was carried in the Commons, but was rejected by the House of Lords. His advanced age led to his resignation in March 1894. He died in Hawarden, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

In 1839 Gladstone married Catherine, daughter of  Sir Stephen Glynne, eighth baronet (1780-1815), and Hawarden Castle in North East Wales, became their marital home. They had eight children together, including Henry Neville Gladstone (1852-1935), businessman, and Herbert John Gladstone (1854-1930), Liberal politician.

Owen M. Edwards (1858-1920)

Sir Owen Morgan Edwards, historian, educationalist and writer, was born and raised in Llanuwchlyn, Merionethshire. He studied at Bala College, and then between 1880-1883 at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he studied English, history and philosophy. He furthered his studies at Glasgow, studying philosophy between 1883-1884, and at Balliol College, Oxford, between 1884-1887. He enjoyed much success here, winning three major university prizes, and in 1887 graduated with first class honours in history.

After a period of travelling in Europe, he returned to academic life at Oxford, becoming a history lecturer and tutor. Two important influences upon him during his period at Oxford were the aestheticism of Ruskin and William Morris, and the Dafydd ap Gwilym Society, responsible for encouraging the study of Welsh literature at the beginning of the 19th century.

From 1890 onwards he became involved in editing a number of Welsh periodicals, including Cymru Fydd (1890), Cymru (1891), Cymru'r Plant (1892), Wales (1894), Y Llenor (1895) and Heddyw (1897). In his publication Cartrefi Cymru (1896), he presented the homes of well-known individuals who had contributed to Welsh cultural life. In 1906 he established 'Urdd y Delyn', a children's society which was a forerunner of 'Urdd Gobaith Cymru' set up by his son Ifan ab Owen Edwards in 1922. 

In 1907, he was appointed first Chief Inspector of Schools, working for the recently established Welsh Education Department. He reformed the Welsh education system by encouraging the teaching of Welsh and improving the atmosphere of Welsh schools. He worked tirelessly to encourage knowledge and awareness of the Welsh language, and the history and culture of Wales.

He served for one session as the Liberal MP for Merionethshire, but did not stand for re-election in the general election of 1900. He was knighted in January 1916 and received the degree of D.Litt honoris causa from the University of Wales in 1918.

Bibliography

• Archives Wales, ‘National Library of Wales, Lloyd George MSS’
• McGovern, Una (ed.), 2002. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. 7th edition. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap
• H. C. G. Matthew, ‘Gladstone, William Ewart (1809-1898)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2008
• Wright, Evan Gilbert, ‘Angharad Llwyd (1780-1866)', Dictionary of Welsh Biography, National Library of Wales
• Robert Thomas Jenkins ‘Edwards, Sir Owen Morgan (1858-1920)' Dictionary of Welsh Biography, National Library of Wales

Evan Roberts (1878-1951)

Evan John Roberts, charismatic leader of the Welsh Religious Revival of 1904-05, was born in Bwlchmynydd, Loughor, Glamorganshire in 1878. He worked in the coal mines at Loughor and Mountain Ash from the age of 12, then re-trained as a blacksmith, before turning to the ministry. Towards the end of 1903, he began to preach in Moriah, Loughor and attended theological classes in Newcastle Emlyn. After being ‘touched’ by the Holy Spirit, he abandoned his studies, and returned to Loughor to spread the Gospel.

Roberts’ preaching attracted crowds of hundreds at a time, and a powerful religious awakening soon spread through Wales. He became a prominent figure of the 1904-05 Religious Revival (as it became known). Church membership increased significantly, and a new generation of leaders and ministers were produced in the churches. The awakening spread to other parts of Britain, and further afield to missionary sites. Roberts’ style of preaching became a blueprint for new religious bodies such as the Pentecostal Movement and the Apostolic Church.

After a little more than a year in the public eye, however, Roberts retired from his high profile evangelism due to exhaustion. He recuperated in England, where he resided for several years. He took part on occasion at meetings in Wales between 1925-30, and returned to live in the Cardiff area, where he composed many hymns and poems. A collection of his hymns was published in Aberdare in 1905.

Mary Jones, Bala (1784-1866)

Mary Jones was a Welsh Protestant Christian girl, who at 16 years old, walked twenty five miles from her home to Bala, to buy a copy of the Welsh Bible, as she longed to own one. She bought the Bible from Thomas Charles (1755-1814), a notable Welsh clergyman, who was deeply committed to evangelism and education.

Her parents were staunch Calvinistic Methodists, and Mary professed the Christian faith at the age of eight. She was taught to read at the circulating schools set up by Thomas Charles, and she became preoccupied with owning a Bible of her own. She saved for six years, and in 1800 made the journey to Bala, barefoot, to purchase a Bible from Thomas Charles, although it was uncertain whether there would be a copy there for her.

It is traditionally believed that this journey by Mary left such an impact on Charles that it inspired him to propose to the Council of the Religious Tract Society to form a Society  to supply Wales with Bibles. In 1804, the British and Foreign Bible Society was established in London. Mary later married and settled in Bryn-crug, Nr. Tywyn, Gwynedd.

Christmas Evans (1766-1838)

Christmas Evans was a Welsh Baptist minister, becoming one of the most renowned preachers in the history of religion in Wales. He was born in Llandysul, Ceredigion in 1838. As a youth, he became a farm labourer and servant to the renowned David Davis of Castellhywel. At the age of 18, he joined one of the churches where Davis was minister, also attending a school run by him. It was here that he learnt to read and write in Welsh and English, and subsequently began to preach.

The religious fervour present in the Baptist Chapel at Aberduar, Llandysul, influenced him, and this strengthened his preaching. He was ordained in 1789, and settled in Llŷn, North Wales, travelling long distances by foot or horseback to fulfill his preaching commitments. He moved to Anglesey, and built up a  strong Baptist community there. He became an extremely popular and successful preacher.

He subsequently held ministries at Caerphilly (1826-8), Cardiff (1828-32) and Caernarvon (1832-8). He raised significant amounts of money to pay off chapel debts, and many new chapels were built. He became one of the three giants of the Welsh religious scene, in the ‘golden age’ of preaching, along with John Elias (1774-1841) and William Williams (1781-1840).

Bishop William Morgan (1545-1604)

William Morgan was born at Ty Mawr Wybrnant, in the parish of Penmachno, near Betws-y-Coed, North Wales. He studied Philosophy, Mathematics and Greek among other subjects, at Cambridge University, graduating in 1568. He received an MA in 1571, before applying himself to Biblical studies for seven years. He graduated with a BD in 1578 and a DD in 1583.

As well as being an accomplished scholar, William Morgan was an ordained minister. He was appointed vicar of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llanarmon from 1578, and became Bishop of Llandaf in 1595, and of St. Asaph in 1601.

William Salesbury, (b. before 1520, d. c.1580), translator and scholar, translated and published the New Testament in Welsh in 1567. Although this was a significant achievement, Morgan believed that it was also necessary to have the Old Testament translated into Welsh. He began to translate the Old Testament in the early 1580s and published this, as well as a revised version of Salesbury’s New Testament, in 1588. A thousand copies were originally printed, followed by a second edition, and a smaller Bible was available from 1630 onwards.

Morgan proceeding to work on a revision of the Prayer Book and the 1588 Bible. This work was continued after Morgan’s death by Bishop Richard Parry and Dr John Davies, and a revised version of the Bible was later published in 1620. His achievement is regarded as a major milestone in the history of the Welsh language, having given the Welsh people the chance to read the Bible in their own native-tongue.

Bibliography

• Culturenet Cymru, 2004. 100 Welsh heroes. Aberystwyth : Culturenet Cymru.
• John Thomas Jones, ‘Evans, Christmas (1766-1838)’ Welsh Biography Online, National Library of Wales, 1959
• Williams, Elisabeth, 1998. To Bala for a Bible. Bridgend: Evangelical Press of Wales
• Glanmor Williams, ‘Morgan, William (c.1545-1604)' Welsh Biography Online, National Library of Wales, 2001

Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904)

Henry Morton Stanley, journalist and explorer, was born John Rowlands in Denbigh, North Wales, in 1841. His father died when he was two years old, and his grandfather raised him until the age of five. Soon after he was sent to St. Asaph workhouse, where he remained until the age of 15. After completing an elementary education, he worked as a student teacher in a National School, before departing to the United States in 1859, aged 18, in search of a new life. He befriended a businessman named Henry Stanley, whose name he adopted as his own. Stanley served in the American Civil War, for both sides. He later joined the Navy, but deserted, and began a career as a journalist.

In 1867, he became one of the New York Herald’s overseas correspondents. Two years later, he was commissioned by the newspaper company to find the explorer, David Livingstone, whose specific whereabouts in Africa were unknown. The expedition was well-funded, and Stanley travelled to Zanzibar in March 1871, to begin his 700-mile expedition through the tropical rainforest, with over 200 porters to carry equipment and provisions. Stanley found Livingstone on 10 November 1871, near Lake Tanganyika, in Tanzania, and is believed to have greeted him with the now famous words ‘Dr Livingstone, I presume?’

Stanley accompanied Livingstone in exploring the region, and wrote a book about his experiences on his return How I found Livingstone: travels, adventures and discoveries in Central Africa (1869). The publication’s success brought him to the public’s attention. In 1874, Stanley resumed his exploration of Africa, with the financial support of the New York Herald and Britain’s Daily Telegraph. He traced the course of the Congo river, an output of this epic journey was the publication of Through the Dark Continent (1878).

Stanley was approached in 1878 by King Leopold II of Belgium, who was keen to develop parts of Africa, and tap into its wealth. This resulted in Stanley’s return to Africa, to the region of the lower Congo where, with King Leopold’s support, new roads were opened. Stanley’s work there led to the creation of the Congo Free State, which was owned privately by King Leopold.

On his return to Europe, Stanley married Welsh artist Dorothy Tennant in 1890. He became Member of Parliament for Lambeth North, London in 1895, remaining in the post until 1900. He was knighted in 1899, in recognition of his service to the British Empire in Africa.

Thomas Pennant (1726 -1798)

Thomas Pennant, naturalist, antiquary and traveller, was born into a Welsh gentry family of Whitford, Flintshire. He received his early education at Wrexham Grammar School, then moved in 1840 to Thomas Croft’s School in Fulham, London. At the age of 18, he began studying at Queen’s College, Oxford, but left without taking a degree. During a tour of Cornwall in 1746-1747, he met the antiquary and naturalist William Borlase. He reactivated Pennant’s interest in minerals and fossils, and spurred Pennant on to further scientific study during the 1750s.

After leaving University, Pennant travelled widely in Britain and Europe. He completed thorough written descriptions of his journeys, and his A Tour in Wales (1778-1783) is regarded as being one of the finest works in Welsh literature after 1770. He employed artist Moses Griffith who provided the majority of illustrations from his various publications. John Ingleby of Halkin was also used extensively, mainly for his townscapes and small vignettes. As a patron, Pennant purchased works by well-known topographical artists.

His extensive knowledge in zoology manifested itself in the publication of several works including British Zoology (1761-1777) and Arctic Zoology (1785-1787). He received many honours and marks of distinction during his lifetime including Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (1754), Fellow of the Royal Society (1767), and an honorary degree from Oxford University (1771), among others. His well-known autobiography The Literary Life was published in 1793, and is a rich source of information on the famous Welsh intellectual.

Bibliography

• BBC website, ‘Henry Stanley (1841-1904)
• William Llewelyn Davies, ‘Stanley, Sir Henry Morton, formerly Rowlands, John (1841-1904), Welsh Biography Online, National Library of Wales, 1959; online edn, 2007
• Hall, Richard, 1974. Stanley : an adventurer explored. London: Collins, 1974
• Charles W. J. Withers, ‘Pennant, Thomas (1726–1798)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Oct 2007
• Ellis Davies, ‘Pennant, Thomas (1726-1798)’, Welsh Biography Online, National Library of Wales, 1959; online edn, 2007

Edward Gordon Douglas-Pennant (1800-1886)

Edward Gordon Douglas-Pennant was a Welsh landowner and politician. He was born Edward Gordon Douglas, in 1800. His paternal grandfather was James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, and his elder brother was George Sholto Douglas, 17th Earl of Morton. He inherited the Penrhyn estate, near Bangor, North Wales, from Richard Pennant , a relative of his wife, Juliana (1737?-1808), and changed his name by Royal License to Douglas-Pennant.

He was a dynamic landowner, extending the Penrhyn estate both in Wales and England. He became the owner of Penrhyn Slate Quarry, near Bethesda, North Wales. Under his ownership, the quarry expanded into one of the largest slate quarries in the world.

He became involved in politics, and between 1841-1865 he became a Member of Parliament for Caernarfonshire.  In 1866 he was raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Baron Penrhyn of Llandegai. He was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son George Sholto Gordon Douglas-Pennant (1836-1907).

Lewis Weston Dillwyn (1778-1855)

Lewis Weston Dillwyn, naturalist and businessman, was born in 1778 in Hackney, greater London. His father was a prominent anti-slavery campaigner, who was born and had lived much of his life in America. Dillwyn received a Quaker education at a Friends’ school in Tottenham. In 1798, he went to Dover and began his study of plants.  He became a fellow of the Linnean Society in 1800.

In 1802, his father bought the Cambrian Pottery at Swansea, and placed him in charge. He moved to the area, living first at Burrough Lodge, then at Sketty Hall. In 1814, the pottery took over the designers and craftsmen of Nantgarw potteries, and started manufacturing porcelain. He remained in charge of the company until 1817.

He was also well-known for his published works on botany and conchology. He began publishing his principal botanical work, the Natural History of British Confervae, an illustrated study of British freshwater algae, in 1802, completing it in 1809. In 1805 he published the Botanist’s Guide through England and Wales with Dawson Turner, and after a further eight years in 1817, he produced  A Descriptive Catalogue of British Shells.

Following the Reform Act Dillwyn was elected in 1832 to the first parliament to sit as a member for Glamorgan. He had been a high sheriff for the county in 1818. The freedom of the borough of Swansea was awarded to him in 1834, and in 1839 he served as Mayor of Swansea.

In 1807, he married Mary Adams (1776-1865), the daughter of John Llewelyn of Penlle’r-gaer, Llangyfelach, Glamorgan, and they had three sons and three daughters. Their son, John Dillwyn Llewelyn (1810-1882) was a photographer and experimental scientist. Their son Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn MP (1814-1892) was a renowned Welsh Liberal.

Bibliography

• Archives Wales, ‘Swansea University, Dillwyn family' [Archive]
• Douglas Pennant, E. H., 1982. The Pennants of Penrhyn: a genealogical history of the Pennant family of Clarendon, Jamaica, and Penrhyn Castle. Bethesda: Gwasg Ffrancon.
• B. D. Jackson, ‘Dillwyn, Lewis Weston (1778–1855)’, rev. Alexander Goldbloom, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [accessed 18 March 2010]
• National Trust, 2009. Penrhyn Castle, Gwynedd. Swindon: The National Trust.

Jimmy Wilde (1892-1969)

William James (Jimmy) Wilde, boxer and world flyweight champion, was born in Pont-y-gwaith, in the parish of Craig Berth-lwyd, near Tylorstown in South Wales. He was able to leave school at the age of thirteen by passing an examination that guaranteed him a labour certificate. He went to work in the coal mines, and to earn extra money, he took part in boxing matches in fairground booths. As he rarely lost a match, he soon built up a reputation for himself. He became a celebrity sportsman in the Welsh rings, and decided to leave the coal mines in order to dedicate himself to a career in boxing.

His first officially listed début was on 26 December 1910, when he fought Les Williams in a three round no-decision, followed soon after by a win on 1 January, 1911, against Ted Roberts. He went undefeated for 103 matches, and won the British flyweight championship in Glasgow in 1912. Although he lost this British title in 1915, he quickly regained it in 1916, and later that year became the first World Flyweight Champion when he defeated Young Zulu Kid of the United States. He held onto this title until 1923, when he officially retired.

From 1911 until his retirement, his official fighting record totalled 138 matches, including seven British or world title contests, and the Lord Lonsdale challenge belt. His incredible powerful punches and fast movements earned him many names such as ‘the Mighty Atom’, ‘the Tylorstown Terror’ and ‘the Ghost with a Hammer in his hands’.

Following his retirement from active boxing, he continued as a boxing manager and promoter of boxing tournaments.

John Charles (1931-2004)

(William) John Charles, footballer, was born in 1931, in Cwmbwrla, Swansea. He was educated at Cwmdu junior and Manselton senior schools. His early talent in football became evident. He was chosen to play for Manselton school team in his first year, then Swansea schools at the age of twelve. On leaving school in 1946, he joined the ground staff at Swansea Town Football Club.

Charles first professional signing came about with Leeds United on his seventeenth birthday, having been spotted playing for Gendros, a local Swansea youth club. His first-team debut for Leeds was a friendly game against the Scottish club Queen of the South, whose centre-forward Billy Houliston called him ‘the best centre-half I have ever met.’ Charles scored 150 league goals in eight years for Leeds, and played exceptionally in both centre-half and centre-forward positions.

His début for Wales came in 1950, playing against Northern Ireland, aged 18. This was a Welsh record, which lasted until 1991. During a period of national service between 1950 and 1952, Charles played for the Army team, as well as regularly practising other sports such as boxing and running.

In 1957 he was transferred to the Italian club Juventus, for a record £65,000 transfer fee, nearly double the previous record for a British player. He spent a total of five years with the team, scoring 93 goals in 155 games. He was instantly successful, and with Charles being the leading scorer, the team won the league championship in 1957, followed by further wins in 1960 and 1961, and the Italian cup in 1959 and 1960. In 1997 Juventus fans voted him the greatest foreign player, and he was the first overseas player to be chosen for the Italian football hall of fame. He was known as ‘il Buon Gigante’ or ‘the Gentle Giant.’

Charles returned to Leeds in 1962, but this period was less successful for him, and after only three months, he returned to Italy with Roma. He could not match his previous form, and was dropped from the team. He joined Cardiff City at the end of the 1962-3 season. He played three second division seasons with them, and played his last game for Wales in 1965, ending his run of thirty-eight caps and fifteen goals.

He moved on to non-league football with Hereford United then Merthyr Tydfil, and remained a capable player into his forties. He became manager at both Merthyr and Hereford, and youth team manager at Swansea City from 1974 to 1976. His later life was plagued with health problems, and he died  in Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, in 2004.

Ivor Novello (1893-1951)

Ivor Novello (real name  David Ivor Davies), composer, actor and playwright was born in 1893 in Cardiff , the only son of David Davies and Clara Novello Davies. His mother was a singing teacher and choral conductor, and she gave the young Ivor musical tuition. This led to his success at eisteddfodau, and a choral scholarship to Magdalen College School, Oxford, when he was only 10 years old. Here he remained for five years.

He was only 15 when he produced his first vocal composition ‘Spring of the Year,’ but a later vocal work ‘The Little Damozel’ written in 1910, brought him more success. He moved to London in 1913, and his flat at 11 Aldwych became his London residence for the rest of his life. Sir Edward Marsh became his patron there, and he was encouraged to compose  further. He changed his name to Ivor Novello by deed poll in 1927.

He achieved one of his most notable song writing successes with his war-time composition ‘Till the boys come home (Keep the home fires burning)', to the words of Lena Guilbert Ford. He composed approximately 60 ballads and songs in total during his career. He had his first major success with musical theatre writing with Theodore & Co., a production by George Grossmith and Edward Laurillard, with a score jointly written by Novello and Jerome Kern. This was followed by further score writing for See-saw, Arlette, Who’s Hooper? and The Golden Moth, among others.

After a period of service in the forces, Novello was offered his first acting part in the silent film The Call of the Blood (1920), which was the start of a successful film career. His great desire to become a stage actor was realised in 1921 when he appeared in Deburaut. He went on to produce and star in the successful play The Rat, in 1924. A film of The Rat (1925) was a major success and led to two further sequels. He wrote and acted in several further plays before turning to musical plays, with popular compositions being Glamorous night (1935) and King’s Rhapsody (1949), his last major musical romance.

John Orlando Parry (1810-1879)

John Orlando Parry, actor and singer, was born in London in 1810. He was the only son of the Welsh musician John Parry (1776-1851) (known as Bardd Alaw) and his wife Maria. He was taught from an early age by his father to sing and play the harp and piano. He also studied the harp under Robert Boscha, and was performing at the age of 15 as a professional harpist.

He gave his first public appearance as a singer on 7 May 1830, at the Hanover Square Rooms, London. He received lessons from Sir George Smart in sacred and classical music, and became sought after to perform in concerts and music festivals.

In 1833 he visited Italy and received singing tuition from Luigi Lablanche in Naples, where he lived for a short time. From 1836 onwards, he appeared in a number of burlettas and comic performances, one of which, The Sham Prince, was written and composed by his father.

In 1842, Parry left the stage for the concert-room. His exceptional talent as a pianist became widely recognized, as a result of high profile appearances, such as the concert tour he took part in around the United Kingdom with Camillo Sivori, Liszt and others. He produced Notes, Vocal and Instrumental in 1850, which was written by Albert Smith. In the production, he sang in different voices, played the piano, conversed with the audience, and undertook many costume changes. The success of this show, was followed by his next solo entertainment act The Portfolio for Children of All Ages (1852), which was also highly popular. The strain of his busy schedule, however, took its toll on his health, and he was forced to retire from public performance.

In 1860, he resumed his role as entertainer, and gave comic performances, using material composed by himself, for a further nine years. He composed several songs and ballads during his lifetime, many of which won prizes from the Melodists’ Club including ‘Fair Daphne’ (1840) and ‘The Flying Dutchman’ (1848). He retired in 1869, due to ill-health.

Bibliography

• G. C. Boase, ‘Parry, John Orlando (1810–1879)’, rev. David J. Golby, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
• Culturenet Cymru, 2004. 100 Welsh heroes. Aberystwyth : Culturenet Cymru
• Davies, Maldwyn, 2005. The ghost with a hammer and the Welsh wizard. Country Quest (May), p.48-49
• Mary Auronwy James, 'Novello, Ivor (David Ivor Davies till 1927; 1893-1951)' Welsh Biography Online, National Library of Wales, 2001; online edn, 2007
• Huw Richards, ‘Charles, (William) John (1931-2004)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Jan 2008; online edn, Jan 2009
• John Snelson, ‘Novello, Ivor (1893-1951)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2009
• Welsh Warriors, ‘Jimmy Wilde, Merthyr Tydfil: World Flyweight Champion’

Images of Welsh country folk are also an integral part of the Welsh Portrait Archive. Sir John Ballinger, the first Librarian at the National Library of Wales, had a vision for the collection when he stated that the Library should collect ‘portraits of men and women, not only celebrities, but racial types and interesting characters.’

Jane Leonard ‘Siani pob man’ (1834-1917)

‘Siani Pob Man’ (translated ‘Jane Everywhere’) was a well-known local character, living in a traditional mud-walled cottage on the beach in Cei Bach, Nr. New Quay, Ceredigion. She was born at Bannau Duon Farm, Llanarth, and was baptized Jane Leonard. She gained the name ‘Siani Pob Man’ from her habit of roaming the neighbourhood, and calling at farms and houses, asking for donations of food, especially during harvest time.

She was very popular with the tourists, whose fascination with her led to the publishing of postcards featuring poetry and a photograph of her. She would often sit outside her cottage feeding her chickens, singing rhymes, or telling fortunes to visitors. She died in 1917, aged 83, and is buried in Henfynyw Cemetery.

Alice Edwards, Aberaeron

This photograph is of Alice Edwards and her family, from Aberaeron, Ceredigion. The photograph, which has been produced in the popular carte-de-visite form, was taken by Ebenezer Morgan, an Aberystwyth photographer, who had photographic studios in Pier Street between 1868 and 1895.

‘Twm Crwca’

Arthur Squibbs was a photographer operating in New Quay and Cardigan from 1901 onwards. He took many photographs of people going about their daily lives, including workmen. The Portrait Archive includes a collection of Aberaeron workmen at the turn of the last century, including a cabinet photograph of ‘Twm Crwca,’ Aberaeron town crier in 1901.

Mrs Price (of 'Three Horse Shoes', Llanwrda)

The sitter dressed in Welsh costume is named as ‘Mrs. Price of Three Horse Shoes, Llanwrda’.

The carte-de-visite photograph was taken ca.1900 by Edward Richard Gyde, an Aberystwyth photographer with studios in Pier Street and Terrace Road.

Bibliography

• Mari Alderman, 2006, Victorian Professional Photographers in Wales 1850-1925,  Genuki: UK & Ireland Genealogy
• Siani Pob Man (1834-1917), Ceredigion Library Local History Resources - Authors and Characters, Ceredigion County Council, 2009