William Williams (Caledfryn)

William Williams (pen name "Caledfryn" or "Gwilym Caledfryn") (6 February 1801 – 23 March 1869) was a Welsh Congregational minister, poet and literary critic born at Bryn y Ffynnon, Denbigh. He was one of the leading figures in the Welsh Eisteddfod movement and did much to raise the standards of Welsh literature of his time.

Caledfryn
Engraving from Ceinion Llenyddiaeth Gymreig (1876)
BornWilliam Williams
(1901-02-06)6 February 1901
Bryn y Ffynnon, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales
Died23 March 1869(1869-03-23) (aged 68)
Groes-wen, Glamorgan
OccupationMinister, poet, writer, editor
NationalityWelsh
Years active1820s - 1860s

Biography

He was from a family of weavers at Bryn y Ffynnon. He studied at Rotherham College before becoming ordained as a minister with the Independents in 1829. He was prominent in the Anti-Corn Law League, the Peace Society and the Society for the Liberation of Religion which sought to separate the church from the state.[1]

He tried to standardize Welsh as a literary language and wrote a number of articles and criticisms on Welsh poetry, becoming popular in the first half of the 19th century. In 1851 he published an important book of Welsh grammar.[1]

He edited many periodicals, including Y Sylwedydd', (1831), Tywysog Cymru (1832-3), Y Seren Ogleddol (1835-6), Yr Adolygydd (1838-9), Cylchgrawn Rhyddid (1845-6), Yr Amaethydd (1845-6). He assisted with Yr Adolygydd (Cardiff, 1852-63), Y Gwron Cymreig (1852-6), Y Gwladgarwr (1863-8) and Y Dysgedydd.[1]

He published Cyfarwyddiadur i Ddarllen ac Ysgrifennu Cymraeg ("A Guide to reading and writing Welsh", 1821); Grawn Awen, a volume of verse in 1826; Drych Barddonol neu Draethawd ar Farddoniaeth (an essay on Poetry) in 1839; Grammadeg Cymreig ("A Welsh Grammar"), 1851.[1]

He spent the last days of his life in South Wales as minister at Groeswen Independent Chapel, near Cardiff in Glamorgan.

Literary work

Poetry
  • Grawn Awen (1826)
  • Caniadau Caledfryn (1856)
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References
  1. "The National Library of Wales :: Dictionary of Welsh Biography". yba.llgc.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
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