AMBROSE, WILLIAM ROBERT (1832-1878), Baptist minister and antiquary;
b. 19 Jan. 1832, at Galltraeth (Bryncroes, Llŷn), son of the Rev. Robert Ambrose (on whom see Spinther, iii, 367) — he was thus cousin to the poet William Ambrose (q.v.). He was brought up as a tailor, and worked at his craft at Caernarvon, Liverpool, Bangor, Portmadoc, and Tal-y-sarn. In 1856 (at Bangor) he received baptism, and began preaching; and during the last years of his life was a paid minister at Tal-y-sarn, though his preaching was considered uninspiring. At Tal-y-sarn, he took a prominent part in local affairs. He won several eisteddfodic prizes for verse and prose; but his chief interest was in antiquities, on which he delivered lectures. His claim to remembrance rests upon his good essay Hynafiaethau, Cofiannau, a Hanes Presennol Nant Nantlle (Pen-y-groes, 1872). He was twice m.; d. 21 Dec. 1878.
Bibliography:
- Y Greal, 1880 (with list of his compositions.)
Author:
Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, C.B.E., D.Litt., Ll.D., F.S.A., (1881-1969), Bangor.
