EDWARDS, WILLIAM (Gwilym Padarn; 1786 - 1857), poet

He was a native of Llanberis, Caernarfonshire, where he worked as a quarryman.

Gaining considerable repute as a poet, he published a volume of verse, Eos Padarn, in 1829, including compositions submitted to the provincial eisteddfodau held at Wrexham, Caernarfon, and Brecon (1820-2). Since his reason for taking his work to the press was to ensure 'that some parts of my labour be remembered and preserved: and that all should not fall into oblivion', there was no need to include his contribution to the Carmarthen eisteddfod of 1819, which had already appeared in Awen Dyfed (1822). In his ode for this meeting, 'on the death of the outstanding military officer, Sir Thomas Picton', he commemorated Picton's career in the West Indies, including his promotion to 'Famed governor.../ In Trinidad', without, however, acknowledging the controversial and repugnant nature of his activity during this period.

He was buried at Llanberis 3 October 1857.

His son, Griffith Edwards (Gutyn Padarn), is separately noticed.

Authors

• Griffith Milwyn Griffiths
• Revised by the editorial team, 2024

Sources

• Edward Jones, Rhestr gyda nodiadau byrion, o Enwogion Cymreig o 1700 i 1900 (1908)
• Bye-Gones, relating to Wales and the Border Counties, 1891, 208
• Catalogue of Printed Literature in the Welsh Department, Cardiff Free Libraries (1898)
• NLW Archives: NLW MS 1899C
• Awen Dyfed: sef, awdlau ac englynion a ddanfonwyd i Eisteddfod Caerfyrddin, Gorph.8, 1819; at y rhai y 'chwanegwyd hanes yr eisteddfod (Caerfyrddin 1822), pp. 17–29
• William Edwards, Eos Padarn: yn cynnwys awdlau, cywyddau, englynion, carolau, cerddi ac emynau ar amrywiol destynau (Llanrwst 1829)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734598

Published date: 1959

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