Thomas Powel
Encyclopedia
Thomas Powel was a Welsh
Celtic scholar
, who was Professor of Celtic at University College, Cardiff from 1884 to 1918.
Powel was born in Llanwrtyd
in 1845 and educated there and in Llandovery
before matriculating
at Jesus College, Oxford
in 1869. He obtained a BA
degree in Literae Humaniores
in 1872. He taught at the Independent College in Taunton
from 1878 to 1880, when he was appointed headmaster of Bootle College, holding that position until 1883. He then became an assistant lecturer in classics at the new University College, Cardiff, then lecturer in Celtic. In the following year, 1884, he was appointed Professor of Celtic, continuing in this position until he retired in 1918. He edited (1879–1886) and contributed articles on linguistics and literature to the Welsh language
journal ; he also edited medieval texts, including Thomas Stephens's version of . He helped Cardiff to obtain important manuscripts and books for the university and city libraries and was a member of the governing body of the National Library of Wales
from its foundation. He said that he chose to give his time to his students rather than to his own research. The University of Wales
awarded him an honorary D.Litt. degree in 1921. He died in Aberystwyth
on 16 May 1922.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Celtic scholar
Celtic Studies
Celtic studies is the academic discipline occupied with the study of any sort of cultural output relating to a Celtic people. This ranges from linguistics, literature and art history archaeology and history, the focus lying on the study of the various Celtic languages, living and extinct...
, who was Professor of Celtic at University College, Cardiff from 1884 to 1918.
Powel was born in Llanwrtyd
Llanwrtyd
Llanwrtyd – "Gwrtyd's church" – is a rural parish in Powys, mid-Wales, through which flows the River Irfon.The parish church of St David dates from the 11th century and is surrounded by scattered farms...
in 1845 and educated there and in Llandovery
Llandovery
Llandovery is a market town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the River Tywi and the A40 road.The town is served by Llandovery railway station, where there is a park and ride to Llanelli and Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales Line...
before matriculating
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
in 1869. He obtained a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
in 1872. He taught at the Independent College in Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
from 1878 to 1880, when he was appointed headmaster of Bootle College, holding that position until 1883. He then became an assistant lecturer in classics at the new University College, Cardiff, then lecturer in Celtic. In the following year, 1884, he was appointed Professor of Celtic, continuing in this position until he retired in 1918. He edited (1879–1886) and contributed articles on linguistics and literature to the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
journal ; he also edited medieval texts, including Thomas Stephens's version of . He helped Cardiff to obtain important manuscripts and books for the university and city libraries and was a member of the governing body of the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
from its foundation. He said that he chose to give his time to his students rather than to his own research. The University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
awarded him an honorary D.Litt. degree in 1921. He died in Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
on 16 May 1922.