{{Short description|Dictionary of biographies of Welsh men and women}} {{italic title}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} The '''''Dictionary of Welsh Biography''''' (DWB) (also '''''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940''''' and '''''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941 to 1970''''') is a biographical dictionary of Welsh people who have made a significant contribution to Welsh life over seventeen centuries.<ref name=WBO/><ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/3593598.stm 'Historical who's who goes online'], BBC News 24 August 2004</ref> It was first published in 1959, and is now maintained as a free online resource.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://biography.wales/|title=Dictionary of Welsh Biography|website=biography.wales|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref>
==Origins== Robert Thomas Jenkins was assistant editor, then joint editor, of ''{{lang|cy|Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig}}'' and its English-language counterpart, the ''Dictionary of Welsh Biography'', writing over 600 entries.<ref>{{Cite DWB|id=s2-JENK-THO-1881|title=Jenkins, Robert Thomas (1881 - 1969) |first=John Gwynn |last=Williams |year=2001}}</ref> His joint editor was John Edward Lloyd, but the ''Dictionary'' was not published until 1959, twelve years after his death. It is properly known as ''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940'',<ref>''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940'' Published under the auspices of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, London (1959) Editors: John Edward Lloyd & R. T. Jenkins</ref> and its supplementary volume as ''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941 to 1970'' (2001). Originally published by the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, recent editions have been published by the University of Wales Press.
''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940'' contains about 4,900 entries<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cymmrodorion1751.org.uk/pages/Publications.html |title=Publications |website=Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion |access-date=2009-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828071952/http://www.cymmrodorion1751.org.uk/pages/Publications.html |archive-date=2008-08-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> within its 1157 pages on the careers and accomplishments of notable Welsh men and women who had distinguished themselves, providing a representative portrait of Welsh society and history up to the 20th century. However, it did not include anyone who was still living in 1940; its supplementary volume, ''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941 to 1970'' did, containing an additional 600 entries within its 318 pages.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dyfedfhs.org.uk/welshbio.htm |title=People from Dyfed |access-date=2009-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416013401/http://dyfedfhs.org.uk/welshbio.htm |archive-date=2009-04-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Welsh Biography Online== [[Image:welsh-biography-online.jpg|thumb|right|The logo of Welsh Biography Online]] The Welsh Biography Online resource has about 4,325 biographies online including clergy, princes, members of the gentry, poets and writers, government officials, ministers, artisans, sportsmen, workers, soldiers, industrialists and farmers.
Welsh Biography Online is a bilingual resource with every entry in Welsh and English. Welsh Biography Online combines the two volumes, ''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940'' and ''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941–1970'' with the three Welsh language volumes, ''Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig hyd 1940'', ''Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig, 1941–1950'' and ''Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig, 1951–1970'', all originally published by the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion of London between 1953 and 2001.<ref name=WBO>{{Cite web |url=http://www.culturenetcymru.com/en/?p=24 |title=Welsh Biography Online on Culture Net Cymru |access-date=2009-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716072427/http://www.culturenetcymru.com/en/?p=24 |archive-date=2011-07-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The idea of transcribing ''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography'' into digital form came because of the constant enquiries the staff of the National Library of Wales receive from users and the constant use made of the ''Dictionary'' in the Library. The National Library of Wales also has a long and close association with ''The Dictionary of Welsh Biography''. Several National Librarians have served as editors and many members of staff have undertaken editorial and research work for the publication. The National Library of Wales then decided to make the online resource a live data-base.<ref name=WBO/>
==Contributors== Authors of articles in the dictionary include: {{columns-list|colwidth=40em| * {{annotated link |Idris Bell}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s-JONE-STU-1867 |date=1959 |title= JONES, Sir HENRY STUART (1867–1939)|first=Harold Idris |last=Bell |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |E. G. Bowen}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s-ILLT-UD0-0475 |first=Emrys George |last=Bowen |title=Illtud |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Geraint Bowen (poet) |Geraint Bowen |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}<ref>{{cite DWB|id=s-GRUF-IFA-1655|title=Gruffudd, Ifan (c.1655-c.1734), poet |first=Geraint |last=Bowen |date=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |William Llewelyn Davies}}<ref>{{cite DWB |first=Sir William |last=Llewelyn Davies |date=1959 |title=Bute, marquesses of Bute, Cardiff Castle, etc. |id=s-BUTE-BUT-1550|fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |A. H. Dodd}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s-MORG-ROB-1608 |title=MORGAN, ROBERT (1608 – 1673), bishop of Bangor |first=Arthur Herbert |last=Dodd |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Mari Ellis}}<ref>{{cite DWB |first=Mary Gwendoline |last=Ellis |title=LLAWDDEN or IEUAN LLAWDDEN (fl. 1450), a cywyddwr who wrote during the years 1450 to 1480 |date=1959 |id=s-LLAW-DDE-1450 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Thomas Iorwerth Ellis}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s-OLLI-ALF-1798 |title=OLLIVANT, ALFRED (1798 – 1882), bishop |last=Ellis |first=Thomas Iorwerth |year=1959|fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Emrys Evans}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s-REIC-HAR-1856 |date=1959|access-date=4 July 2017|title=REICHEL , Sir HARRY (HENRY RUDOLF) (1856–1931)|first=David Emrys |last=Evans |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Gwynfor Evans}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s2-JONE-EDW-1905 |title=Jones, John Edward (1905–1970), secretary and organiser of Plaid Cymru, 1930–62 |last=Evans| first=Gwynfor |date=2001 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Idris Foster}}<ref>{{cite DWB | id=s-POWE-GRI-1561| title=Powell, Griffith (1561 – 1620), principal of Jesus College, Oxford |first=Idris Llewelyn |last=Foster |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |William Havard}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s-HUGH-JOS-1807 |title=Hughes, Joshua (1807-1889), bishop |year=1959 |first=William Thomas |last=Havard |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Edward Morgan Humphreys}}.<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s-MYTT-JOH-1796 |title= Mytton, John (1796 – 1834), sportsman and eccentric |year=1959 |first=Edward Morgan |last=Humphreys |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |David Jenkins (librarian) |David Jenkins}}<ref>{{cite DWB |last=Jenkins |first=David |date=1959 |title=DAVIES-COOKE family, of Gwysaney, Flintshire, successors of the DAVIES family, of Llannerch, Denbighshire, and Gwysaney. |id=s-DAVI-COO-1200 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Robert Thomas Jenkins}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s-MARG-VCH-1696 |title=Marged vch Ifan (Margaret Evans; 1696–1801?), a 'character' |first= Robert Thomas |last=Jenkins |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Bedwyr Lewis Jones}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s2-FOUL-ANN-1877 |title=Foulke, Annie |first=Bedwyr Lewis |last=Jones |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |D. Gwenallt Jones}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s-DERF-JON-1824 |title=Derfel, Robert Jones (1824–1905), poet and socialist|first=David Gwenallt |last=Jones |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |E. D. Jones}}<ref>{{cite DWB |first=Evan David |last=Jones |title=GRUFFUDD ap NICOLAS (fl. 1425–1456), an esquire and a leading figure in the local administration of the principality of South Wales in the middle of the 15th century |id=s-GRUF-APN-1425 |date=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |John Edward Lloyd}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s-BEUN-O00-0642 |title=BEUNO (died 642?), patron saint |first=John Edward |last=Lloyd |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |John Morgan Lloyd}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s-JENK-DAV-1848 |title=JENKINS, DAVID (1848 - 1915), musician |last=Lloyd |first=John Morgan |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Peter Lord (art historian) |Peter Lord}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s2-WILL-LIN-1888 |title=WILLIAMS, MARGARET LINDSAY (1888–1960) |first=Peter |last=Lord |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |David Mathew (bishop) |David Mathew}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |first=David |last=Mathew |title=MATHEW family, of Llandaff, Radyr and Castell y Mynach – all in Glamorgan |id=s-MATH-LLA-1350 |date=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Roland Mathias}}<ref name=DWB>{{cite DWB|title=Haycock, Blodwen Myfanwy |id=s2-HAYC-MYF-1913 |first=Roland Glyn |last=Mathias |year=2001 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Derec Llwyd Morgan}}<ref>{{cite DWB |last1=Morgan |first1=Derec Llwyd |title=Parry, Sir Thomas (1904–1985), scholar, Librarian of the National Library of Wales, University Principal, poet|id=s6-PARR-THO-1904|date=15 April 2009 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |F. J. North}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s-DAWK-BOY-1837 |title=DAWKINS, Sir WILLIAM BOYD (1837–1929), geologist and antiquary |author=Frederick John North |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |John Dyfnallt Owen}}<ref>{{cite DWB|id=s-POWE-HOW-1716|title=POWELL, HOWELL (d. 1716), Congregational minister|author=John Dyfnallt Owen |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Thomas Parry (author) |Thomas Parry}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |last1=Parry |first1=Sir Thomas |title=EDWARDS, THOMAS (Twm o'r Nant; 1739–1810) |id=s-EDWA-THO-1739 |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Iorwerth Peate}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s-WILS-RIC-1713 |title=WILSON, RICHARD (1713–1782), landscape painter |first1=John Edward Horatio |last1=Steegman |first2=Iorwerth Cyfeiliog |last2=Peate |date=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Watkin William Price}}<ref>{{cite DWB |first=Watkin William |last=Price |year=1959 |title=BAILEY family, of Nant-y-glo, Aberaman, etc. |id=s-BAIL-NAN-1789 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |B. R. Rees}}<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s-WILL-HEZ-1844 |title=Williams, Watkin Hezekiah (Watcyn Wyn; 1844–1905), schoolmaster, poet, and preacher |first=Brinley |last=Rees |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Thomas Richards (historian)|Thomas Richards}}<ref>{{Dictionary of Welsh Biography|title=BULKELEY, WILLIAM (1691 – 1760), squire and diarist|first=Thomas|last=Richards|id=s-BULK-WIL-1691 |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Brynley F. Roberts}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s7-RICH-MEL-1910 |last=Roberts |first=Brynley Francis |author-link=Brynley F. Roberts |year=2010 |title=RICHARDS, GRAFTON MELVILLE (1910–1973) |fewer-links=yes |short=yes }}</ref> * {{annotated link |Lawrence Thomas (priest)|Lawrence Thomas}}<ref>{{cite DWB| id=s-HARR-JOH-1680 | title=Harris, John (1680–1738), bishop of Llandaff |last=Thomas |first=Lawrence |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |David Williams (historian) |David Williams}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s-LEWI-FRA-1780|title=Lewis, Sir Thomas Frankland (1780–1855), politician |author=David Williams |year=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> * {{annotated link |Glanmor Williams}}<ref>{{Cite DWB |id=s-MORG-WIL-1545 |title=MORGAN, WILLIAM (c. 1545 – 1604), bishop, and translator of the Bible into Welsh |first=Sir Glanmor |last=Williams |date=1959 |fewer-links=yes |short=yes}}</ref> }}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Wikidata property|P1648}} *[https://biography.wales/ Welsh Biography official website]
{{Authority control}}
Category:1959 non-fiction books Welsh Biography Category:British biographers Category:British non-fiction literature Category:Online person databases