Daniel Evans (Daniel Ddu o Geredigion)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Evans better known by his pseudonym
, Daniel Ddu o Geredigion, was a Welsh language
poet.
, where he was taught by Eliezer Williams
, before attending Jesus College, Oxford
. He matriculated
in 1810, and obtained degrees of B.A.
(1814), M.A. (1817) and B.D.
(1824). In 1817, he was elected by the college to a fellowship, which he held until his death in 1846, but he resided mainly in Wales.
Although Evans was ordained, he came to public attention as a poet rather than as a priest. He served briefly as chaplain of the Royal Military Asylum in Northampton, but resigned due to ill-health and returned home to his parents in Wales. He had no clerical appointments thereafter. In 1819, he was involved with the Dyfed Cambrian Society's attempt to revive the eisteddfod, and was also elected as poet to the London-based Gwyneddigion Society
. Four years later, in 1823, he won two major poetry prizes at the Carmarthen Eisteddfod, one for and the other for . He had a particular skill for love and nature poetry. His collected works were published in 1830 under the title , with an expanded second edition in 1872 drawing on unpublished sources; a third edition was published in 1906. He wrote in classical forms as well as in modern style. Whilst Evans did write a few poems in English, these are regarded as of lesser merit than his Welsh poems. Though highly regarded in the nineteenth century, his reputation has fallen in later times.
Evans, who suffered from depression, committed suicide in Maesnewydd, Llanwnnen, Cardiganshire on 28 March 1846, and was buried on 1 April 1846 at Pencarreg
, Carmarthenshire
.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
, Daniel Ddu o Geredigion, was a Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
poet.
Life
Evans was born at Maesymynach, a farm in the parish of Llanfihangel Ystrad, Cardiganshire. He was the second of three sons born to a farmer, David Evans. Daniel Evans attended the grammar school in LampeterLampeter
Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:At the 2001 National Census, the population was 2894. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in both Wales and the United Kingdom...
, where he was taught by Eliezer Williams
Eliezer Williams
Rev. Eliezer Williams was a Welsh clergyman and genealogist, who served the Earl of Galloway as a family tutor and genealogical researcher.-Life:...
, before attending Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
. He matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
in 1810, and obtained degrees of B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(1814), M.A. (1817) and B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
(1824). In 1817, he was elected by the college to a fellowship, which he held until his death in 1846, but he resided mainly in Wales.
Although Evans was ordained, he came to public attention as a poet rather than as a priest. He served briefly as chaplain of the Royal Military Asylum in Northampton, but resigned due to ill-health and returned home to his parents in Wales. He had no clerical appointments thereafter. In 1819, he was involved with the Dyfed Cambrian Society's attempt to revive the eisteddfod, and was also elected as poet to the London-based Gwyneddigion Society
Gwyneddigion Society
The Gwyneddigion Society is a literary and cultural society founded in London, England by Welsh scholars to further and preserve knowledge of their home country.-History:...
. Four years later, in 1823, he won two major poetry prizes at the Carmarthen Eisteddfod, one for and the other for . He had a particular skill for love and nature poetry. His collected works were published in 1830 under the title , with an expanded second edition in 1872 drawing on unpublished sources; a third edition was published in 1906. He wrote in classical forms as well as in modern style. Whilst Evans did write a few poems in English, these are regarded as of lesser merit than his Welsh poems. Though highly regarded in the nineteenth century, his reputation has fallen in later times.
Evans, who suffered from depression, committed suicide in Maesnewydd, Llanwnnen, Cardiganshire on 28 March 1846, and was buried on 1 April 1846 at Pencarreg
Pencarreg
Pencarreg is a village located in Carmarthenshire, West Wales, United Kingdom, to the south-west of Lampeter.Settlement is primarily grouped around the A485 road from Lampeter to Carmarthen. The population in the United Kingdom Census 2001 was 1,120....
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
.
Works
Evans's writings included:- (1810)
- (1819?) (a poem trying to persuade John Jones (Tegid)John Jones (Tegid)John Jones , commonly known by his bardic name of Ioan Tegid or simply Tegid, was a Welsh clergyman and writer....
to remain in Wales rather than travel to the East Indies) - (1820)
- (1822)
- (1826)
- (1826)
- (1841)
- (1845)
- won Evans a silver medal and prize, presented by Thomas Beynon, a fellow poet, who was president of the Carmarthen Society of Cymreigyddion.