Richard Bryn Williams, or Bryn Williams (28 July 1902–26 July 1981), was a Welsh-

Argentine Argentines, Argentinians or Argentineans are people from Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical, or cultural. For most Argentines, several (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their ...

writer, poet, playwright and historian. From 1975 to 1978 he was

Archdruid Archdruid () is the title used by the presiding official of Gorsedd Cymru, the Gorsedd. The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, the award of the and the C ...

of the national

Gorsedd Gorsedd Cymru (), or simply the Gorsedd (), is a society of Welsh-language poets, writers, musicians and others who have contributed to the Welsh language and to public life in Wales. Its aim is to honour such individuals and help develop and p ...

of Wales.

Biography

Williams was born in

Blaenau Ffestiniog Blaenau Ffestiniog () is a town in Gwynedd, Wales. Once a slate mining centre in historic Merionethshire, it now relies much on tourists, drawn for instance to the Ffestiniog Railway and Llechwedd Slate Caverns. It reached a population of 12,0 ...

, Gwynedd, Wales. When he was seven years old, his family moved to

Trelew Trelew (, from "town" and the name of the founder, Lewis Jones) is a city in the eastern part of the Chubut Province of Argentina, 21km away from the coast. Located in Patagonia, the city is the largest and most populous in the low valley of the ...

, Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina. He returned to Wales in 1923 and studied at the University College of North Wales (now

Bangor University Bangor University () is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. It was established by Royal charter, Royal Charter in 1885 as the University College of North Wales (UCNW; ), and in 1893 ...

). He became an expert on Patagonian history and was a major contributor to the province's literature. He was a supporter of the

National Eisteddfod The National Eisteddfod of Wales ( Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competito ...

, as well as competing in the cultural festival itself, and won the chair both in 1964 and 1968, and from 1975 to 1978 he was

archdruid Archdruid () is the title used by the presiding official of Gorsedd Cymru, the Gorsedd. The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, the award of the and the C ...

, using the bardic name ''Bryn''. Almost all of his numerous works reflect the life of Patagonia and its history. He died on 26 July 1981 at Camwy, his home in Llanbadarn Fawr.

He was buried at

Tywyn Tywyn (; ), formerly spelled Towyn, is a town, community, and seaside resort on the Cardigan Bay coast of southern Gwynedd, Wales. It was previously in the historic county of Merionethshire. It is famous as the location of the Cadfan Stone, a ...

Cemetery and on his gravestone are the words 'GWEINIDOG – BARDD – LLENOR / LLADMERYDD HANES Y WLADFA GYMREIG – PATAGONIA' ('minister – poet – writer / interpreter of the history of the Welsh settlement – Patagonia').

Literary work

;Children's books *''Straeon Patagonia'' (Tales of Patagonia) (1944) *''Y March Coch'' (The Red Steed) (1954) *''Bandit yr Andes'' (The Andean Bandit) (1956) *''Croesi'r Paith'' (Crossing the Steppe) (1958) *''Yn Nwylo'r Eirth'' (In the Hands of Bears) (1967) *''Y Rebel'' (The Rebel) (1969) *''Agar'' (1973) *''Y Gwylliaid'' (The Bandits) (1976) ;Poetry *''Pentewynion'' (Brands) (1949) *''Patagonia'' (1965) *''O'r Tir Pell'' (From the Far Land) (1972) ;Plays *''Pedrito'' (1947) *''Cariad Creulon'' (Cruel Love) (1970) *''Dafydd Dywysog'' (Prince David) (1975) ;Histories, studies and other books *''Cymry Patagonia'' (The Welsh of Patagonia) (1942) *''

Eluned Morgan Mair Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely, (born 16 February 1967), is a Welsh politician who has served as First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour since 2024. Morgan is the first woman, and first member of the House of Lords to ho ...

: bywgraffiad a detholiad'' (Eluned Morgan: Biography and selection) (1945) *''Y Wladfa'' (The Colony) (1962) *''Gwladfa Patagonia 1865–1965'' (The Colony of Patagonia) (1965) *''Atgofion o Batagonia'' (Memories of Patagonia) (1980) *''Crwydro Patagonia'' (Exploring Patagonia) (1960). (Guidebook) *''Taith i Sbaen'' (Trip to Spain) (1949). (Travel book) *''Teithiau Tramor'' (Foreign trips) (1970). (Travel book) *''Prydydd y Paith'' (1983). (Memoirs, published after his death)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Richard Bryn 1902 births 1981 deaths People from Blaenau Ffestiniog Welsh Eisteddfod archdruids Welsh emigrants to Argentina Welsh-speaking academics Welsh-language poets 20th-century Welsh historians Argentine male writers Welsh-language writers Welsh children's writers People from Merionethshire 20th-century Welsh poets 20th-century Welsh dramatists and playwrights Welsh male poets British male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century British male writers Alumni of Bangor University