Dictionary of Welsh Biography

ABDUL-HAMID, SHEIKH (1900 - 1944), architect and Muslim leader become London Central Mosque and East London Mosque (though his plans were never used). In 1940, Abdul-Hamid relocated to Rhyl in north Wales as an employee of the Ministry of Works (likely a wartime commission). The change in circumstances was embraced by Abdul-Hamid. He took an active part in the civic life of Rhyl, organizing charity events for the Red Cross and St John Prisoner of War Fund. He was
ABEL, JOHN (1770 - 1819), Welsh Independent minister Born in Llanybri, Carmarthenshire, 1770, son of William Abel, one of the founders of Capel Newydd in that village. It is said that he attended the Carmarthen Academy but this establishment was in Swansea at that time. In 1794 he succeeded David Davies (died 1807) as minister of the small congregation at Capel Sul, Kidwelly and he also kept a school. John Abel was not orthodox, according to the
ABLETT, NOAH (1883 - 1935), miner and Trade Union leader Born at Porth, Rhondda, 4 October 1883, son of John and Jane Ablett. As a miner, he went for a period to the Central Labour College; he then became a checkweigher at Maerdy. He was elected a member of the Executive Committee of the South Wales Miners' Federation in January 1911, and subsequently a member of the executive of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. In 1918 he was appointed a
ABRAHAM, WILLIAM (Mabon; 1842 - 1922), M.P. and first president of the South Wales Miners' Federation Born 14 June 1842, at Cwmafan, fourth son of Thomas and Mary Abraham, he was educated at Cwmafan National School, became a tinplater and then a miner, commencing as a 'door boy.' In 1870 he was elected a miners' agent and played a prominent part in the struggle which led to the agreement for drawing up a sliding scale of wages in the coalfields in relation to prices and profits in December 1875
ADAM (d. 1181), bishop of St Asaph Adam appears as a canon of Paris and a champion of orthodoxy in 1147, about the time that Gerald was born. Indeed, if we can trust John of Salisbury, Adam du Petit Pont was an Englishman ('Anglicus noster'). The new bishop was not long in taking advantage of his Welsh origin to further the interests of his see in Mid Wales. The region between the Wye and the Severn had in times past been reckoned a
ADAMS, DAVID (1845 - 1922), Congregationalist divine Born 28 August 1845 at Tal-y-bont, Cardiganshire, the son of John and Margaret Adams. His father, who was a bootmaker by trade, was prominent in all the cultural activities of the countryside and was also a lay preacher. David went to the grammar school at Llanfihangel, where he learned the elements of Latin and Greek, but when attendance at the Church of England was made a condition of
ADAMS, ROGER (d. 1741), bookseller and printer at Chester Although he may not have been a Welshman, Roger Adams, who was admitted a freeman of Chester on 20 February 1713/4, merits a note as he was one of the earliest printers of Welsh books and ballads at Chester : his first book was (probably) Ystyriaethau o Gyflwr Dyn, 1724. In 1730 he had started to print Adams's Chester Weekly Courant, and in 1739 he printed John Reynolds, The Scripture Genealogy
ADAMS, WILLIAM (1813 - 1886), mining expert Born at Pen-y-cae, Ebbw Vale, 10 October 1813, son of John and Mary Adams. The father was a working collier at the time but a man of remarkable skill in that vocation; later he became mineral agent for Charles Lloyd Harford & Co. William was educated at Cowbridge Grammar School. In May 1828 he was apprenticed to Charles Lloyd Harford and in the course of time he became expert in his own branch
ADDA FRAS (1240? - 1320?), poet and writer of prophecies According to John Davies and Thomas Stephens, he flourished about 1240. He is referred to in Peniarth MS 94 (26) and Llanstephan MS. 119 (82), as living about 1038, and contemporary with Goronwy Ddu o Fôn. But in G. P. Jones, Anglesey Court Rolls, 1346, 37, 39, mention is made of 'the son of Adda Fras ' and 'the suit of Goronwy Ddu, attorney for the community of the township of Porthgir.' In
AL-HAKIMI, ABDULLAH ALI (c. 1900 - 1954), Muslim leader Said Ismail, who would go on to become the longest serving Imam in Britain prior to his death in 2011. Al-Hakimi was a pioneer and innovative Muslim leader, who was ahead of his time in terms of his vision for his own role as a Muslim leader in Britain. News reports shed light on his activities which range from attending civic functions, including the funeral for George VI in St John the Baptist City
ALBAN DAVIES, JENKIN (1901 - 1968), business man and philanthropist American firms to study their business methods. He entered the family business in 1925 and in due course became chairman of Hitchman's Dairies, Ltd., which was selling 20,000 gallons of milk a day and employing over 500 men when it was sold to United Dairies, Ltd., in 1946. He was also a Lloyd's underwriter. On 6 December 1939 he married Margaret, daughter of John Davies, master mariner, Aberaeron and
ALBAN, Sir FREDERICK JOHN (1882 - 1965), chartered accountant and administrator Born 11 January 1882, at ? Abergavenny, Monmouth, son of David Alban and his wife Hannah. The mother died at Abergavenny, 28 September 1884. The father was a journeyman tailor and he died at Hereford, 2 January 1891. Consequently, the family was scattered. Two elder sons became shoemakers near Fleetwood. Frederick John was brought up by a Miss Williams at Lower Monk Street in Abergavenny until he

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