REES, EVAN (Dyfed; 1850 - 1923), Calvinistic Methodist minister, poet, and archdruid of Wales

Born 1 January 1850 at Puncheston, Pembrokeshire; 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 died 19 March 1923. Jonathan Rees was his brother.

Author

• Reverend James Ednyfed Rhys, (1876 - 1960)

Sources

• Y Goleuad, March 1923
• Y Drysorfa, April 1923
• personal knowledge

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Evan Rees

Additional Links

• VIAF: 40177043
• Wikidata: Q5415524

Published date: 1959

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