Evan Evans (poet) facts for kids

Evan Evans (born May 20, 1731 – died August 4, 1788) was a Welsh poet, priest, and expert in old writings. He was also known by his bardic names, Ieuan Fardd (Ieuan the Poet) and Ieuan Brydydd Hir (Ieuan the Tall Poet). He spent much of his life studying and preserving Welsh literature.

Who Was Evan Evans?

Early Life and Education

Evan Evans was born in Cynhawdref, a small place in Lledrod, Cardiganshire, Wales. His father was Jenkin Evans. Evan went to the grammar school in Ystrad Meurig, where he was taught by the famous scholar and poet Edward Richard. In 1751, he moved to Oxford and started studying at Merton College. To pay for his studies, he sold a small piece of land to his younger brother. However, he left the college before finishing his degree.

A Traveling Priest

By 1754, Evan Evans became a priest. He worked as a curate (a priest who helps the main priest) in many different churches. He served in at least eighteen parishes across Wales and even in England. Some of the places he worked included Newick in Sussex, Tywyn in Merionethshire, and Llanberis in Carnarvonshire.

Evan Evans: A Lover of Welsh Culture

Discovering Ancient Writings

From a young age, Evan Evans loved writing poetry. He was soon noticed by Lewis Morris, who was also an expert in old Welsh things. Evan worked very hard to study Welsh literature. He spent his free time copying old Welsh manuscripts (handwritten books). To do this, he visited many libraries across Wales. He even received small payments from important people like Sir Watkin Williams Wynn and Dr John Warren (who was a bishop) to help him continue his research.

Sharing Welsh Poetry

Evan Evans's first book was called Some Specimens of the Poetry of the Antient Welsh Bards, translated into English. It was published in London in 1764. This book included English translations of old Welsh poems, along with notes to explain the history and people mentioned. It also had a Latin essay by Evans about ancient Welsh bards (poets). This work made him famous as an expert in old writings and a literary critic. It even inspired other famous poets, like Gray, to write beautiful poetry.

His Own Creative Works

Later, Evan Evans published an English poem called The Love of our Country in 1772. He also wrote many poems in Welsh, which were printed in a collection called Dyddanwch Teuluaidd. In 1776, he translated two volumes of Welsh sermons from the works of John Tillotson and other English religious writers. He faced challenges in his life, partly because many of the church leaders in Wales at that time were English and did not understand Welsh culture or language. This made it hard for him to get a better position in the church.

Evan Evans's Legacy

Preserving His Work

Towards the end of his life, a man named Paul Panton from Plâsgwyn in Anglesey gave Evan Evans a regular payment. In return, all of Evan's manuscripts (his handwritten notes and works) would go to Panton's library after Evan died. Because of this, a large collection of 100 volumes of Evan Evans's work was saved and kept in the Plâsgwyn library.

Remembering "The Tall Poet"

Evan Evans was a tall and strong man with dark hair. Because of his height, he was given the bardic name Prydydd Hir, which means "The Tall Poet." However, his other bardic name, Ieuan Fardd (Ieuan the Poet), is more commonly used today to avoid confusion with an earlier poet who had a similar name. Evan Evans passed away on August 4, 1788, in the same place he was born, Cynhawdref. He was buried in the churchyard at Lledrod.

In 1876, a collection of Evan Evans's writings was published by Rev. Daniel Silvan Evans. This book included many of Evan's Welsh poems, his English poem The Love of our Country, and many of his letters. It also contained an essay called A Short View of the State of Britain and an English translation of his introduction to a planned book of Welsh proverbs.