HUGHES, EDWARD ('Y Dryw '; 1772 - 1850), eisteddfodic poet

Born at Nannerch, Flintshire, (christened 9 July 1772), son of Benjamin Hughes of Walgoch, Nannerch. He was educated at S. Albans Hall, and was admitted to Jesus College, Oxford, in 1794 (B.A. 1797, M.A. 1800). He was a military chaplain for a time and served in the same capacity on a warship in the ill-fated expedition to Walcheren, 1809. He was rector of Llanddulas from 1814 to 1818 and of Bodfari from 1818 to 185 0.

His awdl ' Elusengarwch ' was judged to be the best in the Denbigh eisteddfod of 1819 by William Owen Pugh, Robert Davies (Bardd Nantglyn), and David Richards (Dewi Silin). This adjudication started a bitter controversy which raged for a very long time, for the general opinion among the poets and littérateurs of Wales was that the prize should have gone to David Owen (Dewi Wyn o Eifion). Hughes was elected official 'bard' to the Society of Gwyneddigion, 1820-1, and won the prize offered by the Society of Cymmrodorion, 1822, for his cywydd ' Hu Gadarn.' In the Denbigh eisteddfod of 1828 he was again successful with his ' Ymdrech Buddug yn erbyn y Rhufeiniaid ' and also with his awdl ' Amaethyddiaeth ' - Walter Davies (Gwallter Mechain), John Blackwell (Alun), and Aneurin Owen being the adjudicators. He competed with awdlau at Wrexham, 1820, Caernarvon, 1824, Rhosllanerchrugog, 1829, and Bryneglwys, Denbighshire, 1830. Short extracts of his work are to be found in the various periodicals and collections of verse published in his day. He died 11 April 1850 at Bodfari.

Author

• Reverend Robert William Hughes, (1885 - 1954)

Sources

• Foster, Alumni Oxonienses: the members of the University of Oxford
• Hanes llenyddiaeth Gymreig o 1651 O.C. hyd 1850 (1893), 489, 568
• Y Gwyliedydd, 1830, 160, 223
• The Cambro-Briton, January 1821, 232
• Robert Williams, Enwogion Cymru. A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen (1852)
• Cofnodion Eisteddfod Dinbych, 1828
• Cymru (O.M.E.), xvii, 244
• D. R. Thomas, A History of the Diocese of St. Asaph (1874), ii, 7

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Edward Hughes

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q5343539

Published date: 1959

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