Beriah Gwynfe Evans
Encyclopedia
Beriah Gwynfe Evans was a journalist
, Congregationalist
, dramatist, Liberal
politician and Welsh Nationalist.
in Monmouthshire
, Evans was educated at the Beaufort British School
and became a teacher at Gwynfe and Llangadog, Carmarthenshire
. However, his ambition was to become a journalist
.
, performed at the Llanberis
Eisteddfod of 1879. A member of the Gorsedd
, he was heavily involved in Welsh language literature and publishing.
to take up the post of managing editor of the Welsh National Press Co., publishers of Y Genedl Gymreig, The North Wales Observer and other papers. In 1917 he became editor of the Congregationalist weekly Y Tyst.
Beriah Evans was an ally of David Lloyd George
and the other North Walian present at the Newport meeting of 16 January 1896. As secretary of Cymru Fydd
from 1895, Evans was in the vanguard of Cymru Fydd’s offensive across Wales. Lloyd George spoke against a motion to make Evans’ post merely an unpaid, honorary post at Newport “…and curiously enough we carried that.” Once Lloyd George had swung the meeting against this resolution, the decision was made to exclude him from any discussion on the second motion, that of the four sub-federations. The Cardiff Cymru Fydd society was known as "Beriah’s baumkin". Beriah Evans would turn his hand to writing novels, and also produced a fine biography of Lloyd George. In his final years, Evans would join the infant Plaid Cymru
. Evans broke with Lloyd George on the subject of the Boer War
, being a Liberal Imperialist in his sympathies.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, Congregationalist
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
, dramatist, Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and Welsh Nationalist.
Early life
Born at Nant-y-glo, near Ebbw ValeEbbw Vale
Ebbw Vale is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River, south Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough...
in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, Evans was educated at the Beaufort British School
British school
British school may refer to*schools established by the British and Foreign School Society*British School of Amsterdam*British School of Cólon in Portugal*British School at Athens*British School of Bahrain*British School Chandigarh...
and became a teacher at Gwynfe and Llangadog, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
. However, his ambition was to become a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Teacher & Playwright
As a playwright, Evans helped introduce a sceptical Nonconformity to contemporary drama with his patriotic play Owain GlyndŵrOwain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, performed at the Llanberis
Llanberis
Llanberis is a village in Gwynedd, North Wales, lying on the southern banks of Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia. It takes its name from Saint Peris, an early Welsh saint.According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of Llanberis was 1,954...
Eisteddfod of 1879. A member of the Gorsedd
Gorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
, he was heavily involved in Welsh language literature and publishing.
Journalist
In 1880, Evans established the monthly magazine Cyfail yr Aelwyd, and in 1887, he gave up teaching altogether for a career in journalism, joining the staff of the South Wales Daily News in Cardiff. At the same time, he edited the Welsh section of the Cardiff Times and South Wales Weekly News. In 1892, he moved to CaernarfonCaernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
to take up the post of managing editor of the Welsh National Press Co., publishers of Y Genedl Gymreig, The North Wales Observer and other papers. In 1917 he became editor of the Congregationalist weekly Y Tyst.
Beriah Evans was an ally of David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
and the other North Walian present at the Newport meeting of 16 January 1896. As secretary of Cymru Fydd
Cymru Fydd
The Cymru Fydd movement was founded in 1886 by some of the London Welsh, including J. E. Lloyd, O. M. Edwards, T. E. Ellis , Beriah Gwynfe Evans and Alfred Thomas. Initially it was a purely London-based society, later expanding to cities in England with a large Welsh population...
from 1895, Evans was in the vanguard of Cymru Fydd’s offensive across Wales. Lloyd George spoke against a motion to make Evans’ post merely an unpaid, honorary post at Newport “…and curiously enough we carried that.” Once Lloyd George had swung the meeting against this resolution, the decision was made to exclude him from any discussion on the second motion, that of the four sub-federations. The Cardiff Cymru Fydd society was known as "Beriah’s baumkin". Beriah Evans would turn his hand to writing novels, and also produced a fine biography of Lloyd George. In his final years, Evans would join the infant Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
. Evans broke with Lloyd George on the subject of the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, being a Liberal Imperialist in his sympathies.
Works
- The Life Romance of Lloyd George
- Owain Glyndŵr (play) (1880)
- Dafydd Davis (novel) (1898).
Sources
- R. Tudur Jones, Congregationalism in Wales.
- Dictionary of Welsh BiographyDictionary of Welsh BiographyThe Dictionary of Welsh Biography is a dictionary of biographies of Welsh men and women who have made a unique contribution to Welsh life over seventeen centuries...
. - National Library of Wales, D. A. Thomas Papers.
- National Library of Wales, William George Papers.
- National Library of Wales, Sir John Herbert Lewis Papers.