Anwyl, J. Bodfan (John Bodfan), 1875-1949

Person

Anwyl, J. Bodfan (John Bodfan), 1875-1949

'Bodfan', John Bodvan Anwyl (1875-1949), was a Congregational minister, lexicographer and author. He was born in Chester, the younger brother of Sir Edward Anwyl (1866-1914). In 1899 he became minister of Elim Welsh Independent Church, Ffynnonddrain, Carmarthen, but resigned due to deafness in 1904 and became a missioner at Glamorgan Mission to the Deaf and Dumb in Pontypridd. He edited Spurrell's Welsh-English Dictionary, 6th edition (Carmarthen, 1914), and the English-Welsh Dictionary, 7th edition (Carmarthen, 1916). After a period working in the National Library of Wales, 1919-1921, he was appointed Secretary of the University of Wales Board of Celtic Studies Welsh Dictionary, 1921-1935. During this period he also wrote several books: Englynion (Wrexham, 1933), Fy Hanes I Fy Hunan (Carmarthen, 1933) and Yr Arian Mawr (Carmarthen, 1934) and edited Ellis Wynne's Gweledigaethau y Bardd Cwsc (Carmarthen, 1927) and Theophilus Evans' Drych y Prif Oesoedd (Carmarthen, 1932). He spent his final years in Llangwnnadl, Caernarfonshire, his mother's family home, and died there by drowning on 23 July 1949.