Dictionary of Welsh Biography

WILDE, WILLIAM JAMES (1892 - 1969), boxer, world flyweight champion (1916-23) was given his first opportunity by Jack Scarrott, the owner of a boxing booth, although Jack, like others, expressed doubts about the future of someone only 5ft 2.5ins tall, who at that time weighed less than 6 stone. Throughout his unbelievable career of 864 contests (the figure most often quoted), his heaviest weight was 7st 10lb. In 1911, after persuading Ted Lewis to act as his manager, he left
WILIAM EGWAD (fl. c. 1450), poet Nothing is known of his life, but he may have been connected with the parish of Llanegwad, Carmarthenshire (Lloyd, A History of Carmarthenshire, ii, 413). Peniarth MS 122 (119) also states that he was buried at Llanegwad-fawr. For his works in manuscript see Lewis and Jones, Mynegai, and Cat. of Additions to B.M. MSS., 1841-45; see also works in NLW MS 4710B, NLW MS 5273D, NLW MS 6511B, NLW MS
WILIAM PENLLYN (fl. c. 1550-1570), chief harpist harpists and players of the crwth - Huw Dai, Robert ap Siôn Llwyd, Wiliam Penfro, Wiliam Goch Grythor, Wmffre Grythor, Morus Grythor, Tomas Grythor of Cegidfa, and Hywel Gethin. He wrote englynion to Lewis Gwynn, constable of Bishop's Castle (died 1552) (Peniarth MS 114 (109)) and Gruffudd Dwnn of Kidwelly (Llanstephan MS 133 (881)). A transcript of his music-book in the hand of Robert ab Huw is extant
WILLIAM(S), LEWIS (1774 - 1862), peripatetic teachers Born in 1774 at Gwastadgoed, Pennal, the son of William and Susan Jones; his parents were very poor, and the father died when Lewis was only four years of age, leaving the mother to the care of the parish. At the age of 16, Lewis joined the county militia; later he was apprenticed to a shoe-maker in Cemaes, Montgomeryshire, where, at the age of 18, he found religion. Recalled to the militia, he
WILLIAM, THOMAS (1761 - 1844), Independent minister, and hymn-writer minister in the same manner as David Williams of Aberthyn (1717 - 1792) and Morgan John Lewis, and in 1806 Bethesda chapel was built by him and his flock at Llantwit Major. The church was recognised by the regional association of the Independents in 1814 and he was its minister for the rest of his life. In 1790 he married Jane Morgan of Eglwys Brewis, and they went to live at Fonmon and later at
WILLIAMS, ABRAHAM (1720 - 1783), Independent minister Born in 1720 in the parish of Pant-teg, Monmouthshire - perhaps at Pontyfelin, where his brother was born. He was a musician and travelled the countryside to teach psalmody. It was probably Morgan John Lewis who interested him in religion. He started exhorting with the Methodists, and was accepted as an exhorter at the Association held at Trevecka in 1744. When the New Inn society was formed into
WILLIAMS, BENJAMIN (Gwynionydd; 1821 - 1891), cleric and author Llanover, Monmouth. He published (a) two volumes of poems - Caniadau (Aberystwyth, 1867) and Briallen Glan Ceri (Carmarthen, 1873), (b) a short essay on Lewis Glyn Cothi (Carmarthen, 1866), (c) Enwogion Ceredigion (Carmarthen, 1869), a biographical work which is still consulted. He also contributed to Y Brython, Yr Haul, and Archaeologia Cambrensis. He was a successful competitor at eisteddfodau, being
WILLIAMS, DANIEL HOWELL (1894 - 1963), aerodynamicist Born 27 June, 1894 at Ffestiniog, Merionethshire, the son of Griffith J. Williams, schoolmaster, and his wife, Mary Helena. He was registered as Daniel John but later adopted his mother's maiden name, Howell. His father was later H.M. Inspector of Mines for north Wales. He was a nephew of Sir Richard J. Williams, Mayor of Bangor, 1913-20. He was educated at Friars School, Bangor and in October
WILLIAMS, DAVID (1717 - 1792), Methodist exhorter, afterwards Independent minister of Evan Prichard of Collennau. On the advice of Daniel Rowland, it is said, he was ordained minister at Aberthyn, in the same manner as Morgan John Lewis and Thomas William. That was probably during the Methodist Disruption (1750-62). For all that, he maintained his connection with the Methodists, attended their Associations and societies, and preached to them regularly. At Aberthyn he was troubled
WILLIAMS, DAVID (Alaw Goch; 1809 - 1863), coal-owner and eisteddfodwr becoming a coal-owner was in partnership with Lewis Lewis (of Cefn Coed) at Ynyscynon, Cwm-bach, where they began sinking a pit in 1847, and entered into a lease of a coal-mine, dated 31 December 1844, for 48 years (N.L.W. Ewenny MS. 374). After Lewis gave up, David Williams carried on alone. After being successful here, he soon opened another colliery at Aberaman, obtaining a lease from Crawshay Bailey
WILLIAMS, DAVID JAMES (1870 - 1951), schoolmaster Born 18 February 1870 in Caerphilly, Glamorganshire, one of the 13 children of Thomas Williams, collier, and his wife. Though he began work as a boy in the mines he showed early ability and in 1882 he won the Gelligaer Scholarship to Lewis' School, Pengam. The register of that school notes Bargod Board School as his previous school and his father's address as Greenfield Terrace, Bargoed. He was
WILLIAMS, DAVID JOHN (1885 - 1970), writer being a pupil-teacher at Llandrillo school, Edeyrnion, Meironnydd, 1908-10 he entered the Old College School, Carmarthen, 1910-11. In 1911 he went to the University College at Aberystwyth and after graduating and winning a Meyricke Scholarship in 1916 he proceeded to Jesus College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1918. After a term as temporary Welsh teacher at Lewis' Grammar School, Pengam, he became

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