Dictionary of Welsh Biography

DILLWYN, ELIZABETH AMY (1845 - 1935), novelist, industrialist and feminist campaigner Dillwyn's uncle was John Dillwyn-Llewelyn of Penllergare [sic] who, along with his wife Emma Thomasina Talbot, his sister Mary Dillwyn and his daughter, Amy's cousin, Theresa Story Maskelyne, was a pioneer of early photography. Her grandfathers were the naturalist Lewis Weston Dillwyn and geologist Henry De La Beche. On the Dillwyn side, the family were originally Quakers and her great-grandfather was
DODD, CHARLES HAROLD (1884 - 1973), biblical scholar in the Welsh language and his knowledge of it. Doubtless this benefitted him in his work of translating the scriptures. In June 1925 he married Phyllis Mary, the widow of John Elliott Terry, and a son and a daughter were born to them. He died 22 September 1973. A service of thanksgiving for his life was held in Westminster Abbey on 25 January 1974. This was the first time a Free Church minister had
DOLBEN family Segrwyd, councillors and civic officials. DAVID DOLBEN (1581 - 1633), bishop of Bangor Religion Son of Robert Wyn Dolben (great-grandson of the first Robert Dolben above) and of Jane, daughter of Owen ap Reinallt of Glyn Llugwy. He entered S. John's College, Cambridge, in 1602, holding one of the scholarships founded by Dr. John Gwyn (died 1574), and graduated B.A. 1606, M.A. 1609, and D.D. 1626. Ordained by George
DONNE, JAMES (1764 - 1844), cleric and schoolmaster Kington, Herefordshire, 1790, and was priested 19 June 1791; he became second master at the King's School, Chester, in 1794, and also curate of Eccleston, Cheshire. Becoming a minor canon of Chester cathedral in 1794 and shortly afterwards headmaster of Oswestry grammar school, he was given the vicarage of Llan-y-blodwel in 1798. His first wife, whom he married in 1793, was Caroline, daughter of John
DONNELLY, DESMOND LOUIS (1920 - 1974), politician and writer of 17 he set up the 'British Empire Cricket XI' which continued through the war years and established an excellent standard of cricket, and raised funds for the Duke of Gloucester's Red Cross and the St John fund. He first joined the Labour Party in 1936. At the outbreak of World War II Donnelly joined the Royal Air Force and served with the rank of flying-officer (Bomber Command) and later in
DOWNMAN, JOHN (1749 - 1824), painter . He died 24 December 1824, aged 74, at Wrexham. Editorial note 2023: John Downman is now known to have been born in Eynesbury, Huntingdonshire, and was baptized there on 12 September 1749. He is believed to have attended a school at Ruabon in Denbighshire.
DUNAWD (fl. 6th century), saint . With his three sons Deiniol, Cynwyl, and Gwarthan, he founded the monastery of Bangor Iscoed on the banks of the Dee in Flintshire, and became its first abbot. Sir John E. Lloyd, however, rejects this tradition and prefers to regard Saint Deiniol as the founder of Bangor Iscoed. Ann. C. record the death of ' Dunaut rex ' in the year 595. But Bede states that Dunawd (' Dinoot ') was still abbot of
DWN, HENRY (before c. 1354 - November 1416), landowner and rebel Henry Dwn of Croesasgwrn, Llangyndeyrn, in Carmarthenshire, was the son of Gruffudd Dwn (also called Gruffudd Gethin) ap Cadwgan and Annes, daughter of Cadwgan ap Ieuan, and a direct descendant of Llywelyn ap Gwrgan, lord of Cydweli. Dwn first appears in the historical record serving in Picardy and Normandy in 1369 under John of Gaunt, the first Duke of Lancaster, who appointed him steward of the
DWNN, GRUFFYDD (c. 1500 - c. 1570), country gentleman , undertook the work of copying and collecting manuscripts, although he is not as famous as some - such as John Jones (c. 1578 - 1658) of Gellilyfdy. The finest examples of his work are to be found in Llanstephan MS 40 and in the notes in NLW MS 3063E, but there is evidence that other manuscripts have been lost. Some very notable manuscripts were at one time in his possession, e.g. Hendregadredd, Peniarth
DWNN, JAMES (c. 1570 - c. 1660), poet His earliest poem (NLW MS 3051D (692)) is dated 1594, and his latest (B.M. MS. 51 (73)) 1657. Accordingly, it is possible that he was the eldest son of Lewys Dwnn. The two frequently wrote panegyrics in honour of the same people - the families of Gogerddan, Mathafarn, Gregynog, and the Plasau Duon, Dr. John Davies of Mallwyd, etc., but, for the most part, James Dwnn confined himself to his own
DWNN, LEWYS (c. 1550 - c. 1616) Betws Cedewain, genealogist , but the marks of the decline of the poetic art are only too obvious in his works. Most of these, written in his own hand, are to be found in Peniarth MS 96. His songs were addressed to leading personalities in every part of Wales, but special attention should be paid to his panegyric to ' Caer Dyf' (Cardiff), 1601, his cywyddau addressed to Dr. John Davies, Mallwyd, and bishop William Morgan, 1600
DWNN, OWAIN (c. 1400 - c. 1460), poet , justice of South Wales, when the latter's sun set in 1447. There is evidence (Panton MS. 40 (83)) that he served in Ireland under Richard, duke of York, father of Edward IV, and it was to him, perhaps, that Hywel Dafydd addressed a cywydd which is full of references to that service. Owain's wife was Catherine, daughter of John Wogan of Picton, Pembrokeshire, and their son, Harry Dwnn, and a nephew of

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