William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog)

The Rev. William Rees (November 8 1802 – November 8 1883), usually known by his bardic name of Gwilym Hiraethog, was a Welsh poet and author, one of the major figures of Welsh literature during the 19th century.

Gwilym Hiraethog took his pseudonym from his birthplace, a farm on the Hiraethog mountain in Denbighshire. Largely self-educated, he was a polymath, who took an interest in astronomy and political science as well as being a Nonconformist minister and a leading literary figure.

In 1843 he founded the Welsh language journal "Yr Amserau ("The Times")" in Liverpool [http://www.newsplanwales.info/s005.htm] . He used the newspaper to campaign for the disestablishment of the Church in Wales.

Works

Poetry

*"Emmanuel" (1861)
*"Gweithiau Barddonol Gwilym Hiraethog" (1855)

Prose

*"Llythyrau 'Rhen Ffarmwr" (1878)

Novels

*"Aelwyd F'Ewythr Robert" (1852)
*"Helyntion Bywyd Hen Deiliwr" (1877)

Drama

*"Y Dydd Hwnnw"

ources

*D Ben Rees - "The Polymath: Reverend William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog 1802-1883)" (Modern Welsh Publications)
* [http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101023290/ DNB]