John Howell (poet)
John Howell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1774 |
| Died | 18 November 1830 (aged 55–56) |
John Howell (also known as Ioan ab Hywel or Ioan Glandyfroedd; 1774–1830) was a soldier, editor and Welsh-language poet. He is most famous for collecting the works of Carmarthenshire poets and publishing them in the volume Blodau Dyfed in 1824.[1][2][3][4]
Early life
Howell was born in 1774 at Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, where he received very little schooling but was apprenticed to a weaver.[1][2][4][5][6]
Career
Howell joined the Carmarthenshire militia, where, due to his interest in music, he was employed in the band as fife-major. He served with his regiment in Ireland in 1799 and 1803. During this time, Howell improved his education, taking a particular interest in Welsh poetry and mathematical science.[1][2][4][5][6]
Howell was discharged on 24 July 1815 and moved to Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, becoming the headmaster of the national school.[1][2][4][5]
While working as a teacher, Howell wrote poems and songs, which he sent to various eisteddfodau. He submitted his ode to Thomas Picton, On the death of the outstanding military officer, Sir Thomas Picton, to the Carmarthen Eisteddfod of 1819 and it was published in Awen Dyfed (1822).[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
In 1824, he brought out a selection of compositions of past and present bards from Carmarthenshire called Blodau Dyfed (translated: The Flowers of Dyfed). It also featured nineteen pieces of Howell's own work, including Carmarthen March.[1][2][3][5][6][8]
Howell's Ar y Duke of Gloucester's March appeared in William Thomas' collection of songs in 1851.[9]
Howell visited local churches, instructing the choristers in psalmody.[4][6]
Personal life
Howell was said to have a "considerable fund of anecdote" and a "friendly and cheerful disposition".[5]
Death
John Howell died on 18 November 1830 in Llandovery after a lingering illness, believed to be cancer. He was buried beside the porch of Llandingat Church.[1][2][4][5][6]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Manners Chichester, Henry. . . Vol. 28 – via Wikisource.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Chichester, H. M.; Clare Loughlin-Chow, M. (2004-09-23). "Howell, John [Ioan ab Hywel] (1774–1830)". In Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B. (eds.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13975. Retrieved 2026-05-14. (Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)
- 1 2 3 The Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales. Oxford University Press. 1986. pp. 44, 265. ISBN 9780192115867.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Davies, Sir William Llewelyn (1959). "HOWELL, JOHN (Ioan ab Hywel or Ioan Glandyfroedd, 1774 - 1830), weaver, schoolmaster, poet, editor, and musician". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Williams, Robert (1852). Enwoigon Cymru: A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen, from the Earliest Times to the Present, and Including Every Name Connected with the Ancient History of Wales. W. Rees. pp. 221–222.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Foulkes, Isaac (1870). Geirlyfr Bywgraffiadol o Enwogion Cymru 1870 [Biographical Dictionary of Welsh Celebrities 1870] (in Welsh). pp. 492–493.
- ↑ Awen Dyfed: sef, awdlau ac englynion a ddanfonwyd i Eisteddfod Caerfyrddin, Gorph. 8, 1819; at y rhai y 'chwanegwyd hanes yr eisteddfod [The Muse of Dyfed: namely, odes and songs delivered to the Carmarthen Eisteddfod, July 8, 1819; to which the history of the eisteddfod was added] (in Welsh). Carmarthen: Cymdeithas Gymröaidd yn Dyfed. 1822. pp. 11–16.
- ↑ Howell, John (1824). Blodau Dyfed : sef, Awdlau, cywyddau, englynion, a chaniadau, moesol a diddanol, a gyfansoddwyd gan feirdd Dyfed, yn y ganrif ddiweddaf a'r bresennol [Flowers of Dyfed: that is, odes and songs, moral and entertaining, composed by the poets of Dyfed, in the last and the present century] (in Welsh). Carmarthen: J. Evans.
- ↑ Thomas, William (1851). Yr awen lawen sef, casgliad o ganiadau dewisol [The joyful muse that is a collection of selected songs] (in Welsh). Carmarthen: William Thomas. p. 43. hdl:10107/5707728.