John Rowlands (

pen name A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...

, "Giraldus"; 1824 – 4 July 1891) was a Welsh

antiquary An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic sit ...

and educator, a literary man who wrote several interesting things in English and Welsh, and was an occasional contributor to the daily and weekly journals of the day.

Biography

He was born at Nanteos Arms,

Llanbadarn Fawr, Ceredigion Llanbadarn Fawr () is a village and community (Wales), community in Ceredigion, Wales. It is on the outskirts of Aberystwyth next to Penparcau and Southgate. It forms the eastern part of the continually built-up area of Aberystwyth. It holds two ...

. He was one of the first students who entered Carmarthen College, and one of the first who went out as pioneers of education in

South Wales South Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the Historic counties of Wales, historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire ( ...

, when schoolmasters' salaries ranged from thirty pounds to forty pounds a year. During his early years, he served as chief librarian to Sir

Thomas Phillipps Sir Thomas Phillipps, 1st Baronet (2 July 1792 – 6 February 1872), was an English antiquary and book collector who amassed the largest collection of manuscript material in the 19th century. He was an illegitimate son of a textile manufactu ...

, Middle Hall,

Cheltenham Cheltenham () is a historic spa town and borough adjacent to the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort following the discovery of mineral springs in 1716, and claims to be the mo ...

. Rowlands was a schoolmaster by profession, and in that capacity, he spent 10 years at Rumney; 16 years at

Dinas Powys Dinas Powys (; also spelt "Dinas Powis" in English) is a town and community (Wales), community in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. Its name means "fort of the provincial place" and refers to the Dinas Powys hillfort, Iron Age hillfort which ...

; and he spent some years also at

Risca Risca () is a town in the Caerphilly County Borough and within the Historic counties of Wales, historic boundaries of Monmouthshire (historic), Monmouthshire in south-east Wales. It is split into two Community (Wales), communities; Risca East an ...

and

Bedwas Bedwas is a town situated two miles north-east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly (county borough), Caerphilly county borough, within the Historic counties of Wales, historic boundaries of Monmouthshire (historic), Monmouthshi ...

in a similar capacity. He established ten new schools in localities where there were no schools before. He carried one school on for 12 months without receiving any salary. He received his pension from the Education Department, according to the code, for his services as a schoolmaster for nearly 40 years. His other services were enumerated by the Rector of

Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil () is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydfil, daughter of K ...

and others, in the '' Western Mail'' and other papers, when he had a paralytic seizure, 10 years before his death, which left his left side in a helpless condition. He died in

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

, leaving a wife and daughters. There was at least son, John D. Rowlands, of

Treherbert Treherbert () is a village and community (Wales), community situated at the head of the Rhondda Fawr valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Historic counties of Wales, Historically part of Glamorgan. Treherbert is the upper mo ...

References

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Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rowlands, John Welsh educators 1824 births 1891 deaths Welsh antiquarians People from Ceredigion