John Edwards (1747–1792) facts for kids
John Edwards (also known as Sion Ceiriog) was a Welsh poet who lived from 1747 to 1792. He was born in a place called Crogen Wladys in Glyn Ceiriog, Wales. John Edwards helped start an important group in London for Welsh writers and artists.
His Life and Contributions
John Edwards, along with his friends Owen Jones and Robert Hughes, started a group called the Cymdeithas y Gwyneddigion (or Venedotian Society) in 1770. This society was a special place for Welsh people in London to share their culture and literature.
Sion Ceiriog, as many called John Edwards, wrote a long poem (called an awdl) for the society's meeting on Saint David's Day in 1778. He was very active in the group. He served as its secretary from 1779 to 1780. Later, in 1783, he became the president of the society.
In 1780, the Society of Gwyneddigion gave Edwards a special medal. He earned this honor for writing a poem without rhymes (called a blank-verse elegy). This poem was a tribute to another poet named Richard Morris.
Remembering John Edwards
John Edwards passed away suddenly in 1792 when he was 45 years old. Another poet, John Jones (Jac Glan-y-gors), wrote some memorial verses about him in a magazine called Geirgrawn in June 1796.
John Jones wrote that John Edwards was known as Sion Ceiriog. He described him as a poet, a great speaker, and someone who studied the stars. He also said Edwards was a curious historian of both land and sea. He could play musical instruments and truly loved his country and the Welsh language. John Edwards was buried in London in September 1792, and his friends missed him very much.
