Dictionary of Welsh Biography

BEUNO (d. 642?), patron saint commemoration, history has little to tell of the saint. The only extant life is a brief Welsh summary of about 1350 contained in the Book of the Anchorite of Llanddewi Brefi (ed. J. Morris-Jones and J. Rhys, Oxford, 1894). This makes him a scion of the royal stock of Morgannwg, born on the banks of the Severn in Powys, educated at Caerwent, settled at Berriw (until driven away by the approach of the English
BEYNON, ROBERT (1881 - 1953), minister (Presb.), poet and essayist artistry as a polished writer. He and Rhys Davies (one of the elders of the church) were co-authors of a history of Carmel (1921). He was a very popular preacher throughout Wales, and the congregations doted upon the beauty of his turn of phrase and his terse, brilliant sayings. No doubt it was because of this that he was chosen to deliver the (unpublished) Davies Lecture on ' Y ffordd dra rhagorol ' in
BEYNON, THOMAS (1744 - 1835), archdeacon of Cardigan and patron of eisteddfodau and Welsh literature stipend towards the building of churches in the places under his care, and the newly-founded S. David's College, Lampeter, was generously supported by him. He supported the circulating schools of Bridget Bevan and testified to the ability of Morgan Rhys the hymn-writer as a schoolmaster in his parishes in 1771-2 by applying for an extension of his services for 1772-3. He was a patron of the
BIDWELL, MORRIS, Puritan preacher, under the Commonwealth renewed in 1653, he was appointed to do definite pastoral work at S. Mary's in Swansea. There in 1658 happened the fierce altercation with the Quaker John ap John who asked whether Bidwell was a true minister of Christ, and was struck in the face instead of getting an answer. He died before 1660, but a Royalist named Richard Seys had such an objection to his bones resting in the chancel of S. Mary's
BIRCHINSHAW, WILLIAM (fl. 1584-1617), poet as for Birchinshaw, says Myddelton, 'while he is capable of writing a good cywydd he will never learn one good habit.' Both of them, it seems, prefer making love to the fair sex, and tippling, and 'to procure gold they live as wandering minstrels.' On p. 182 of the same manuscript an englyn to Rhys Grythor (Rhys the Fiddler) by Birchinshaw is dated 30 November 1584, and in Chirk Castle Accounts
BLAYNEY family Gregynog, The family claimed descent from Brochwel Ysgythrog. The first member of the family about whom there is definite information is EVAN BLAYNEY, whose name appears eighteenth in the roll of burgesses found in the charter of Welshpool, 7 June, 7 Henry IV (1406), where he is described as 'of Tregynon.' His son, GRIFFITH AP EVAN BLAYNEY, is mentioned by the poet Lewis Glyn Cothi. The Gregynog line of
BLEDDYN ap CYNFYN (d. 1075), prince . His career was cut short in 1075, when Rhys ab Owain and the nobles of Ystrad Tywi contrived his death. The tragedy was much deplored in Mid Wales, and when his cousin, Trahaearn ap Caradog, defeated Rhys (1078) in the battle of Goodwick and drove him into headlong flight, it was held to have been signally avenged. High praise is bestowed upon Bleddyn by the chronicle which was now kept at
BLEDDYN FARDD (fl. 1268-1283), one of the bards of the independent Welsh princes Thirteen of his odes are preserved in the NLW MS 6680B: Hendregadredd Manuscript. He sang chiefly to the sons of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and to the chieftains of Gwynedd, but he has one ode to Rhys ap Maredudd ap Rhys of South Wales. His entire work consists of eulogies and elegies, with the exception of his 'Marwysgafn' or last confession. The earliest ode by him which can be dated is
BLEDRI ap CYDIFOR (fl. 1116-30), chieftain
BLIGH, STANLEY PRICE MORGAN (1870 - 1949), landowner and author customs. For worship he had no use, but he found relief in composing metrical prayers, and there was a strong element of mysticism in his makeup. Though a professed Liberal he took little part in politics, but he gave years of valuable service on the county council. When the fourth national conference, circa 1893, failed to reach agreement on the matter, Bligh erected his own memorial to Llywelyn ap
BODVEL family Bodvel, Caerfryn, The Bodvel s, who trace their descent from Collwyn ap Tangno, first come into public notice with JOHN WYN ap HUGH of Bodvel (died 1576), who bore the royal standard for Warwick (later Northumberland) against the Norfolk rebels (1549), and was rewarded with the grant of Bardsey Island, which he was alleged in 1569 to be using as the headquarters of a highly-organized nest of pirates. His son HUGH
BOWEN, EVAN RODERIC (1913 - 2001), Liberal politician and lawyer campus. He was awarded the honorary degree of LlD (Wales) in 1972 and was also elected a fellow of Trinity College, Carmarthen in 1992. Bowen was a member of the Governing Body of the National Museum of Wales, 1945-2001, and of the federal University of Wales, 1950-2001. A warm admirer of Sir Rhys Hopkin Morris, Bowen's Liberal credentials were impeccable, reflected in his unwavering belief in the

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