{{Short description|British philosopher (died 1620)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Griffith Powell''' (1561 – 15 June<ref name="WBO Powell"/> or 28 June<ref name=ODNB/> 1620) was a philosopher and Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, from 1613 to 1620.
==Life== Powell was the third of four sons of John ap Hywel of Llansawel, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Powell matriculated at Jesus College in 1581, obtaining his BA in 1584, MA in 1589, and BCL in 1593.<ref name =ODNB>{{cite web| first=Barrie |last= Williams| title=Powell, Griffith (1560/61–1620)| work=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online edition) (subscription access) |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2004 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/22649| access-date=17 August 2007}}</ref> He was elected Fellow of the college in 1589.<ref name="WBO Powell"/> He effectively ran the college during the principalships of his two predecessors, Francis Bevans and John Williams. Williams deprived him of his Fellowship, but it was restored on the Chancellor's orders.<ref name=Baker>{{cite book| title=Jesus College 1571–1971 |last=Baker| first=J. N. L. |authorlink= J. N. L. Baker| year=1971 | publisher = Oxonian Press Ltd |location= Oxford | pages= 13| isbn=0-9502164-0-2}}</ref>
Powell wrote two volumes on Aristotelian philosophy, ''Analysis analyticorum posteriorum'' (1594) and ''De sophisticis elenchis'' (1598).<ref name=ODNB/> He was awarded his DCL in 1599.<ref name="WBO Powell"/> During his time as Principal he "requested" various "worthy personages" to contribute to the construction of college buildings, in particular the chapel, hall, buttery and kitchen, and raised £838 12s 2d: £259 from merchants and gentry of London, £160 from citizens of Oxford, £341 from people in Wales and the borders, and £78 from seven members of the clergy in Wales (Richard Parry, Bishop of St Asaph, giving £66 13s 2d of this sum).<ref>Baker, ''Jesus College'', 4</ref> The hall still retains the panelling, three tables and two benches from the time of this work.<ref name=Baker/> His careful approach to college finances also made it possible to increase the numbers of resident fellows and scholars, and the popularity of the college with students from South Wales in particular increased during his time as Principal.<ref name=ODNB/>
He died in 1620 and was buried in the Church of St Michael at the Northgate near the College.<ref name="WBO Powell">{{cite DWB | id=s-POWE-GRI-1561| title= POWELL, GRIFFITH (1561 - 1620), principal of Jesus College, Oxford | first= Idris Llewelyn |last= Foster| author-link=Idris Foster |access-date=17 August 2007}}</ref> He left his whole estate to the college; lands in Flintshire were bought with the proceeds, and these remained in college ownership until 1966.<ref name=Baker/> The college chapel was completed within a year of his death.<ref name=ODNB/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Jesus College, Oxford}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Griffith}} Category:1561 births Category:1620 deaths Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford Category:Fellows of Jesus College, Oxford Category:Principals of Jesus College, Oxford Category:Welsh philosophers Category:People from Carmarthenshire Category:16th-century Welsh writers Category:17th-century Welsh writers Category:16th-century English philosophers Category:17th-century English philosophers