John Owen (Q58777)

John Owen (1854-1926) was born at Llanengan, Caernarfonshire, on 24 August 1854, and received his early education at Botwnnog Grammar School. He graduated in mathematics at Jesus College, Oxford, in 1876 and then taught for three years at Appleby Grammar School. In 1879 he returned to Wales on his appointment as Welsh professor and lecturer in classics at St Davids College, Lampeter. Also in 1879 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Basil Jones and received priest's orders in 1880. In 1885 he succeeded A. G. Edwards as warden of Llandovery College and in 1889 was appointed Dean of St Asaph. Owen was appointed Principal at Lampeter in 1892 and Bishop of St Davids in 1897. He remained in this position until his death at London on 4 November 1926. John Owen was a Welshman through and through, and was deeply interested in the Welsh educational system and its development. One of his last acts was to chair the departmental committee whose proceedings led to the publication in 1927 of the famous report Welsh in Education and Life. He also had close links with the National Eisteddfod and the Welsh Council of the League of Nations Union. He and his wife Amelia had four sons and six daughters. He was buried at Abergwili, and there is an effigy of him at St Davids Cathedral.