REES, EVAN (Dyfed ; 1850-1923), Calvinistic Methodist minister, poet, and archdruid of Wales;
b. 1 Jan. 1850 at Puncheston, Pembs.; son of James and Eunice Rees. He removed with his parents to Aberdare when but a child and was employed when 8 years of age at Blaen-gwawr colliery. He removed to Cardiff when 23 years of age, and entered the ministry at Scion C.M. church (afterwards Pembroke Terrace), Cardiff. He succeeded as a poet early in life, and was successful in provincial and national eisteddfodau, e.g. Merthyr Tydfil national eisteddfod, 1881, for an awdl on ‘Cariad’; Liverpool, 1884, for an awdl on Gwilym Hiraethog; Brecon, 1889, for an awdl on ‘Y Beibl Cymraeg’; Merthyr Tydfil, 1901, for an awdl on ‘Y Diwygiwr’; and the international eisteddfod at Chicago, 1893, for an awdl on ‘Iesu o Nazareth’. He was appointed adjudicator at the national eisteddfod every year during the last forty years of his life, and was archdruid for twenty-one years. He travelled extensively in Europe, South Africa, parts of Asia, and North America, and became renowned as a lecturer. He was editor of Y Drysorfa, 1918-23. He published Caniadau Dyfedfab, Gwaith Barddonol Dyfed, Gwlad yr Addewid a Iesu o Nazareth, Oriau gydag Islwyn. He d. 19 March 1923. Jonathan Rees (q.v.) was his brother.
Bibliography:
- Y Goleuad, March 1923;
- Drys., April 1923;
- personal knowledge.
Author:
Rev. James Ednyfed Rhys, (1876-1960), Cardiff
