Davis, David

(1745-1827)

   Welsh poet from Goitreisaf, near Lampeter, Cardiganshire. Born Jacob, he and his brothers adopted the name Davis. He was known by his bardic name as Dafydd ab Ieuan Rhydderch (Evan Roderick). Educated at Leominster, Llanbydder, and Llangeler, along with the grammar school at Carmarthen, in 1764 he became a divinity student at the Carmarthen (Presbyterian) Academy under Samuel Thomas. He was appointed co-pastor at Llwynrhyd-owen, Cardiganshire, in 1769, where he received Presbyterian ordination in 1773. For thirty years he ran Castell Howell Farm in the Vale of Cletwr as a school, where he was known as Dafis Castellhywel. For many years candidates for Anglican orders were ordained direct from the school. He was distinguished as one of the most successful classical teachers in the principality. He was buried in the churchyard of Llanwenog, Cardiganshire, where a monument with an inscription in Welsh is erected to his memory. He wrote in Welsh and his Telyn Dewi (Harp of David)-a collection of his poetical pieces in Welsh, Latin, and English - was edited by his eldest son, the Rev. David Davis (1824).

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. Genuki: Theological Colleges in Wales (http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/TheoColl.html).