William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog)

Dr William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog)

The Rev. William Rees (8 November 1802 – 8 November 1883), usually known in Wales by his bardic name of Gwilym Hiraethog, was a Welsh poet and author, one of the major figures of Welsh literature during the 19th century.

Gwilym Hiraethog took his pseudonym from his birthplace, a farm on the Hiraethog mountain in Denbighshire. Largely self-educated, he was a polymath, who took an interest in astronomy and political science as well as being a Nonconformist minister and a leading literary figure.

In 1843 he founded the Welsh language journal Yr Amserau ("The Times") in Liverpool . He used the newspaper to campaign for the disestablishment of the Church in Wales.

Works

Poetry

Emmanuel (1861)
Gweithiau Barddonol Gwilym Hiraethog (1855)

Prose

Llythyrau 'Rhen Ffarmwr (1878)

Novels

Aelwyd F'Ewythr Robert (1852)
Helyntion Bywyd Hen Deiliwr (1877)

Drama

Y Dydd Hwnnw

Sources

D. Ben Rees - The Polymath: Reverend William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog 1802-1883) (Modern Welsh Publications)
DNB

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