Richard Bryn Williams (Q60791)

R. Bryn Williams (1902-1981), poet and historian, was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merionethshire, but from 1909 to 1923 lived in Trelew, Chubut, Argentina. He then returned to Wales, studying at University College of North Wales, Bangor, and the Theological College, Aberystwyth; in 1932 he became a Welsh Presbyterian minister, and from 1952 he worked in the National Library of Wales. He married Eunice Bryn Williams (d. 1991). He wrote extensively on the history of the Patagonian settlement, including his 'Cymry Patagonia' (1942), 'Y Wladfa' (1962) and 'Gwladfa Patagonia, 1865-1965' (1965) and his collections of reminiscences by the settlers ('Atgofion o Batagonia' (1980)) and prose and poetry written by them, published between 1944 and 1976. He wrote fiction for adults and children about Patagonia, in 'Y March Goch' (1954), 'Bandit yr Andes' (1956) and others. His poetry, published in the volumes 'Pentewynion' (1949), 'Patagonia' (1956), and 'O'r Tir Pell' (1972), was also dominated by the settlement. He also wrote plays, travel books, and an autobiography, 'Prydydd y Paith' which appeared posthumously in 1983.