Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jones, Rhys

by Rees M. Jenkin Jones

JONES, RHYS (1713–1801), Welsh poet and compiler, born in 1713, son and heir of John Jones of Blaenau, Llanfachraeth, Merionethshire, was educated at Dolgelley and Shrewsbury, and on leaving school settled as a country gentleman on his own freehold for the remainder of his long life. He wrote poetry, and was described as the greatest living poet in 1770. He is best remembered as a compiler of Welsh poetry; he was on terms of intimacy with the most eminent Welsh poets of his time. He died 14 Feb. 1801 in his eighty-eighth year, and was buried at Llanfachraeth.

He published:

1. ‘Flangell i'r Methodistiaid’ (a Whip for the Methodists), which displays very narrow religious sympathies.
2. ‘Pigiadau dewisol o waith y Prydyddion o'r amrywiol oesoedd,’ 1770 (Rowlands).
3. ‘Gorchestion Beirdd Cymru, neu Flodau Godidowgrwydd Awen,’ a valuable selection of Welsh poetry of different ages, Shrewsbury, 1773; revised by Robert Ellis (Cynddelw) [q. v.], Carnarvon, 1861.
4. A selection of his poems was published by his grandson, Rice Jones Owen, in 1818.

[Williams's Eminent Welshmen; Foulkes's Geiriadur Bywgraffiadol; Jones's Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol; Cymru, August 1891, p. 37.]

R. J. J.