Gwyneddigion Society
Encyclopedia
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.
, originally from Llanfihangel Glyn Myfr, Jones had moved to London as a young man and had earned his fortune as a furrier. Although the society's name (Gwyneddigion: Gwynedd scholar's) suggests that its main focus was with the county of Gwynedd
the organisation embraced all of North Wales
, and later contained members from all over Wales. One of the society's most notable early members was Iolo Morganwg
(Edward Williams).
One of the most notable events in the early history of the society was its funding of John Evan's
exploration of North America in search of the legendary 'Welsh Indians', the descendents of Madog ab Owain Gwynedd
.
The society had its own library, and would remain in contact with scholars across Wales, such as William Jones
, to aid them in their knowledge gathering. The society supported eisteddfodau across Wales and also ran its own annual prize for literature, in the form of a silver medal. Throughout its history, the Gwyneddigion Society published Welsh literary texts including, Barddoniaeth Dafydd ab Gwilym (1789) and The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales (1801-07).
The original society merged with the Cymreigddigion, but a new Gwyneddigion Society was formed in London in 1978.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
scholars to further and preserve knowledge of their home country.
History
The Gwyneddigion Society was founded in 1770 by a group of expatriate Welshmen who were residing in London. Foremost of the founders was Owen JonesOwen Jones (antiquary)
Owen Jones was a Welsh antiquary.He was born on the Llanfihangel Glyn y Myfyr in Denbighshire. In 1760 he entered the service of a London firm of furriers, to whose business he ultimately succeeded....
, originally from Llanfihangel Glyn Myfr, Jones had moved to London as a young man and had earned his fortune as a furrier. Although the society's name (Gwyneddigion: Gwynedd scholar's) suggests that its main focus was with the county of Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
the organisation embraced all of North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, and later contained members from all over Wales. One of the society's most notable early members was Iolo Morganwg
Iolo Morganwg
Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg , was an influential Welsh antiquarian, poet, collector, and literary forger. He was widely considered a leading collector and expert on medieval Welsh literature in his day, but after his death it was revealed that he had forged a...
(Edward Williams).
One of the most notable events in the early history of the society was its funding of John Evan's
John Evans (explorer)
John Thomas Evans was a Welsh explorer who produced an early map of the Missouri River.John Evans was born in Waunfawr, near Caernarfon...
exploration of North America in search of the legendary 'Welsh Indians', the descendents of Madog ab Owain Gwynedd
Madoc
Madoc or Madog ab Owain Gwynedd was, according to folklore, a Welsh prince who sailed to America in 1170, over three hundred years before Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492. According to the story, he was a son of Owain Gwynedd who took to the sea to flee internecine violence at home...
.
The society had its own library, and would remain in contact with scholars across Wales, such as William Jones
William Jones (Welsh radical)
William Jones was a Welsh antiquary, poet, scholar and radical. Jones was an ardent supporter of both the American and French Revolutions, and through his strong support of the Jacobin cause he became known as 'the rural Voltaire' or 'Welsh Voltaire'...
, to aid them in their knowledge gathering. The society supported eisteddfodau across Wales and also ran its own annual prize for literature, in the form of a silver medal. Throughout its history, the Gwyneddigion Society published Welsh literary texts including, Barddoniaeth Dafydd ab Gwilym (1789) and The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales (1801-07).
The original society merged with the Cymreigddigion, but a new Gwyneddigion Society was formed in London in 1978.