Edward Williams [Iolo Morganwg]

Edward [Iolo Morganwg] Williams (1747-1826), was originally from Llancarfan, Glamorgan. English was his native tongue, but he learned Welsh as a child, and was introduced to Welsh poetry at that time. He was taught some by Lewis Hopkin. He worked as a monumental mason and builder in London and Kent from 1773 to 1777, then returned to Wales. In London he met many literary figures, mostly from Wales. In 1791 he moved to Bath, hoping to become a poet, but then moved to London again, staying there until 1795, meeting Southey and Owen Jones and many political radicals, writing a pamphlet proposing that the American Indians were originally Welsh. He formed the Torsedd of Bards of the Isle of Britain in 1792, and changed his name to Iolo Morganwg. He published a 2 volume edition of his poems in 1794 in London, Poems Lyrical and Pastoral. He returned to Wales, but his living was meagre. At this time he became a Unitarian, helping to found the South Wales Unitarian Society in 1802, and published many hymns in 1812.