Skip to main content
Llew Llwyfo, Victorian singer, poet and journalist from Anglesey

Llew Llwyfo

Singer / Poet / Journalist / Eisteddfod conductor

Lewis William Lewis, known by his bardic name Llew Llwyfo, was born at Pen-sarn, Llanwenllwyfo, Anglesey, on 31 March 1831. As a boy he worked in the Parys Mountain copper mines near Amlwch, before being apprenticed to a draper in Bangor in 1845.

He became one of the most versatile Welshmen of his age: poet, novelist, journalist, singer, concert organiser and a celebrated eisteddfod conductor. He worked on Welsh newspapers including Y Cymro, Yr Amserau, Y Gwladgarwr, Y Glorian and Y Faner, and won the chair at eisteddfodau from Merthyr in 1859 to Llanelli in 1895.

Top

Lewis William Lewis, the Anglesey copper-miner's boy who became the great Welsh eisteddfod showman and toured America as a singer.

From 1868 he spent several years in the United States, touring as a singer among Welsh communities from coast to coast and co-editing the Welsh-American paper Y Wasg. His published works include the novels Llewelyn Parri and Huw Huws and the epic Buddugoliaeth y Groes. Despite his fame he died poor in Rhyl on 23 March 1901, and was buried at Llanbeblig, Caernarfon.

Career Highlights

  • 1859-1895 - Won chairs at eisteddfodau including Merthyr, Aberdare, Rhyl and Llanelli
  • 1868-1874 - Singing tour and journalism among Welsh communities in the USA
  • 1855 - Published the novel Llewelyn Parri
ℹ️ Born 31 March 1831 at Pen-sarn, Llanwenllwyfo, Anglesey, Wales.
ℹ️ Died 23 March 1901 in Rhyl, Wales.

Born on Anglesey, worked as a boy in the Parys copper mines near Amlwch, and spent his life in Welsh journalism, poetry and the eisteddfod.

ALSO: