William Owen Pughe
Encyclopedia
William Owen Pughe was a Welsh
antiquarian and grammarian best known for his Welsh and English Dictionary, published in 1803, but also known for his grammar books and 'Pughisms' (neologisms).
Pughe was born at Llanfihangel-y-pennant, Merionethshire
, but went to live in London
in 1776, where he worked as a teacher. In 1783 he joined the Society of Gwyneddigion, and soon began compiling his Welsh-English dictionary. During this time he earned his living firstly as a legal clerk and then as a schoolmaster and a private tutor for the children of wealthy people in London. In 1806, he inherited the estates of the Rev. Rice Pughe, of Nantglyn, Denbighshire
, a distant relative. After this he enjoyed a private income which meant that he was able to devote his whole time to literary and scholarly pursuits. He returned to Wales to live in 1825.
His son was the scholar Aneurin Owen.
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...
antiquarian and grammarian best known for his Welsh and English Dictionary, published in 1803, but also known for his grammar books and 'Pughisms' (neologisms).
Pughe was born at Llanfihangel-y-pennant, Merionethshire
Merionethshire
Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, a vice county and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...
, but went to live in London
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...
in 1776, where he worked as a teacher. In 1783 he joined the Society of Gwyneddigion, and soon began compiling his Welsh-English dictionary. During this time he earned his living firstly as a legal clerk and then as a schoolmaster and a private tutor for the children of wealthy people in London. In 1806, he inherited the estates of the Rev. Rice Pughe, of Nantglyn, Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, a distant relative. After this he enjoyed a private income which meant that he was able to devote his whole time to literary and scholarly pursuits. He returned to Wales to live in 1825.
His son was the scholar Aneurin Owen.
Works
- The Cambrian Biography (1803)
- Coll Gwynfa (translation of Paradise Lost) (1819)
- Hu Gadarn (1822)