Daniel Evans, also known by his bardic name, Daniel Ddu o Geredigion,[1] was born on March 5, 1792, [2] at Maesmynach farm in the parish of Llanfihangel Ystrad, Cardiganshire, Wales. He was the son of David and Sarah Evans, wealthy, Baptist farmers.
While Daniel was raised by his parents as an Anabaptist[3] and a member of the Aberduar Chapel Circuit, he grew up to be an Anglican clergyman. He was first educated at the Lampeter Grammar School by the Rev. Eliezer Williams, a classical
scholar and the vicar of Lampeter.[4] Like many of his Welsh contemporaries, Daniel then studied at Jesus College in Oxford, England, finishing his Bachelors degree in 1814, his Masters in 1817, and his Bachelors in Divinity in 1824.[5] Following his graduation, he was made a senior fellow of the college and for this he received a good salary. [6]
Despite his training to become an Anglican clergyman, Daniel did not spend much of his life working for the Church of England. He is believed to have spent a short time as a chaplain at the Royal Military Asylum in Northampton, England,[7] but soon he returned to his home in Wales due to a decline in his health—throughout his life, Daniel was known to have struggled with his mental health and depression. After his time at the asylum chapel, he was never again appointed to a position in the Church of England.
At home in Cardiganshire, Daniel spent much of his time enriching Welsh literary culture. As Daniel Ddu, he was one of the most celebrated Welsh poets of his time. His works routinely appeared in the newspapers and were so ingrained in the culture that they even appeared inscribed on tombstones. He was also an avid eisteddfodwr and at the 1823 eisteddfod in Carmarthen, he was chaired the Chief Bard of Wales for his poem, “Awdl, ar Sefydliad Coleg Dewi Sane, yn Agos i Lanbedr, Ceredigion” (An Ode to the Establishment of St. David’s College Near Lampeter, Cardiganshire).[8] A collection of his greatest works was compiled in 1831 in a book called Gwinllan y Bardd (The Bard’s Vineyard) and two more editions of this book were published in the decades after his death. He also authored smaller works including a eulogy to his old tutor, Rev. Eliezer Williams (Marwnad i’r Diweddar Barch. Eliezer Williams).[9]
Daniel was also involved in the Welsh literary world in his capacity as an editor and critic. For example, he was one of the editors of Telyn Dewi, an anthology of the work of David Davis of Castellhywel.[10] He was also a common sight on the judges panel at the eisteddfodau. His literary criticism also reached the newspapers, sometimes even causing great uproar among his colleagues, as happened in 1832 following his harsh critique of the orthographical decisions of Tegid, another renowned poet.[11] Nevertheless, his contribution to Welsh literary culture of the first half of the 19th Century is undeniable. Daniel died by suicide on March 28, 1846, at the age of 54. His loss was felt throughout the nation and his death was lamented in newspapers throughout Wales, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and he was remembered as a “bright and shining star in the firmament of Welsh literature.”[12] Daniel was buried at the parish church in Pencarreg, where his parents were buried before him. A great crowd of his friends and neighbours attended his funeral and bid him farewell with a spontaneous rendition of one of his hymns.
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[1] In English, “Black Daniel of Cardiganshire”
[2] Tegid, “Daniel Ddu,” The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette, September 15, 1849, p. 3, col. 7. Digital Images. National Library of Wales. https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3089570/3089573/29/
[3] 1837. David Evans. Will dated Feb. 17, 1837. Proven Sept. 17, 1838. Welsh Wills 1556-1858. Llanwnnen. Diocese of St. David’s, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. http://hdl.handle.net/10107/717554
[4] 1909. T. E. Meurig-Davies, “Daniel Ddu o Geredigion,” The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser, September 10, 1909, p. 6, col. 5. Digital Images. National Library of Wales. https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3764148/3764154/73/
[5] 1888. Joseph Foster, Alumni Oxonienses, (Oxford: Parker and Co., 1888), 431.
[6] Tegid, “Daniel Ddu,” The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette, September 15, 1849, p. 3, col. 7. Digital Images. National Library of Wales.
[7] 1907. “Wales Day by Day,” Western Mail, April 24, 1907, p. 4, col. 9. Digital Images. FindMyPast.
[8] Tegid, “Daniel Ddu,” The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette, September 15, 1849, p. 3, col. 7. Digital Images. National Library of Wales. https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3089570/3089573/29/
[9] 1820. Daniel Evans, Marwnad i’r Diweddar Barch. Eliezer Williams (Carmarthen: J. Evans, 1820). Digital Images. National Library of Wales. http://hdl.handle.net/10107/1106915
[10] 2024. Marion Löffler, “‘Generation 1789’: Welsh Dissenters and Radicals Lost in Translation,” in Memory and Modern British Politics, ed. Matthew Roberts (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024), 50. https://books.google.ca/books?id=VszlEAAAQBAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover
[11] 1832. Daniel Evans, “Welsh Orthography,” The Cambrian, January 7, 1832, p. 4, col. 1-2. Digital Images. National Library of Wales. https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3327635/3327639/20/
[12] 1846. Anonymous. Lamentable Suicide, Hereford Times, April 4, 1846, p. 8. Digital Images. FindMyPast.
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