EDWARDS, JOHN (Siôn Ceiriog; 1747 - 1792), bard and orator

Name: John Edwards
Pseudonym: Siôn Ceiriog
Date of birth: 1747
Date of death: 1792
Gender: Male
Occupation: bard and orator
Area of activity: History and Culture; Literature and Writing; Poetry
Author: Griffith John Williams

Born in Glynceiriog, Denbighshire. He went as a young man to London and, after getting to know Owen Jones (Owain Myfyr) and Robert Hughes (Robin Ddu o Fôn) he joined the Society of Gwyneddigion. From then on until his death in September 1792 he was one of the most prominent members of the society: he was secretary in 1779, president in 1783, and he was regarded as the bard of the society. When the Gwyneddigion offered a silver medal for an elegy on Richard Morris in 1780, Siôn Ceiriog wrote a poem in blank verse, described as 'pindaric' (B.M. Add. MS. 14993, 57-8). Although it was Richard Jones, Trefdraeth, who won the medal, the society maintained that Siôn Ceiriog had written the better poem and he was given what was called an 'honorary medal.' Apart from this, little of his work has been preserved. It is obvious that he was a 'character,' and he also won much renown as an orator in the meetings of the Gwyneddigion and of the Society of Caradogion. He was a witty man but somewhat hot-headed and irresponsible, and his chief delight lay in 'ragging' his London friends. John Jones, Glan-y-gors (1766 - 1821), says that he was an astronomer, musician, and historian, but we do not know enough to substantiate the claim.

Author

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.

Find out more on our sponsorship page.