Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 18.djvu/67

 published two volumes of Welsh sermons, translated from the works of Tillotson and other English divines. In one notice of him it is stated that having passed a great part of his life in the cultivation of Welsh literature, ‘without being able to procure the smallest promotion in the church, his fortitude deserted him, and, to chase away his vexations, he fell into a habit of drinking, that at times produced symptoms of derangement.’ The fact that he cultivated Welsh literature is, however, of itself sufficient to account for his non-preferment, as the Welsh prelates of that period were for the most part Englishmen who were ignorant of the language of the country. Paul Panton, esq., of Plâsgwyn in Anglesey, allowed him towards the close of his life an annuity of 20l., on condition that all Evans's manuscripts should at his death become his property; and in consequence the whole collection, amounting to a hundred volumes, was deposited in the Plâsgwyn library, where it still remains. Evans was tall and athletic, and of a dark complexion. From his height he obtained the bardic appellation of Prydydd Hir, or the ‘tall poet.’ He died at Cynhawdref, the place of his birth, in August 1789, and was buried in Lledrod churchyard. The suddenness of his death gave rise to entirely false reports that he died by his own hand, or of starvation on a mountain.

The Rev. Daniel Silvan Evans, B.D., published a collection of Evan Evans's miscellaneous writing under the title of ‘Gwaith y Parchedig Evan Evans (Ieuan Brydydd Hir) golygedig gan D. Silvan Evans, B.D., Caernarfon: argraffedig gan H. Humphreys, 1876,’ 8vo. This volume contains numerous poems in Welsh, the English poem on ‘The Love of our Country,’ forty-six of Evans's letters, mostly in English, ‘A Short View of the State of Britain,’ reprinted from the ‘Cambrian Quarterly Magazine,’ vol. i., and an English translation of Evans's Latin introduction to his intended publication of the Welsh Proverbs.

[Information from the Rev. Daniel Silvan Evans, B.D.; Owen's Cambrian Biography, p. 101; Meyrick's Cardiganshire, p. 325; Gent. Mag. lviii. pt. ii. 934; Williams's Biog. Sketch of Eminent Individuals, p. 10; Williams's Eminent Welshmen, p. 149; Rowlands's Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry, pp. 448, 477, 510, 515 n., 535, 537, 572; Cat. of Printed Books in Brit. Mus.; Nichols's Illustr. of Lit. v. 600; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ii. 428.] 

EVANS, EVAN (1804–1886), generally known in Wales as, dissenting minister, was born at Gellillyndy, Llanddewibrefi, Cardiganshire, 8 March 1804. He commenced preaching with the Calvinistic methodists in 1825; became a total abstainer in 1830, and met with much persecution for his advocacy of temperance principles, which were new in those days. In 1847 he joined the independents, and continued a popular minister among them through life. In 1869 he was induced to emigrate to America, whither a daughter and several brothers and sisters had gone before him, taking up his residence at Oakhill, Ohio. In 1881 he collected a small Welsh church in Arkansas, the first in the state, and continued in charge of it until his death on 29 Oct. 1886. His wife died in January of the same year.

His literary works are: ‘Rhodd Mam i'w Phlentyn;’ he edited the monthly magazine called ‘Cyfaill Plentyn;’ ‘y Cyfamod Gweithredoedd,’ &c., 2nd edit., 1842; ‘Cofiant Parch. D. Stephenson, Brynmawr;’ ‘Ffordd Duw yn y Cyssegr a'r Mor;’ ‘Athrawiaeth a Dyledswydd,’ being two volumes of sermons, 1864 and 1866; he translated ‘Daioni a Thoster Duw,’ by John Owen, D.D., 1843; ‘Corff Duwinyddiaeth,’ by Dr. Brown of Haddington, 1845; ‘Cynydd y Cristion,’ by Dr. Goodwin, 1847; ‘Codiad a Chwymp Pabyddiaeth,’ by Dr. Fleming, 1849; ‘Crefydd Gymdeithasol,’ by Matthias Maurice, 1862; he also published ‘Ystafell Weddi, neu Allwedd Ddirgel y Nefoedd,’ by Brooks, translated by Rev. W. Williams, Talgarth, 1845.

[Cyfaill yr Aelwyd, March 1887; letter from one of the sons.] 

EVANS, FREDERICK JOHN OWEN (1815–1885), hydrographer, son of John Evans, master R.N., was born on 9 March 1815. He entered the navy as a second-class volunteer in 1828. After serving in the Rose and the Winchester he was transferred in 1833 to the Thunder, Captain Richard Owen, and spent three years in surveying the coasts of Central America, the Demerara River, and the Bahama banks. Evans subsequently served in the Mediterranean on board the Caledonia (flagship), Asia, Rapid, Rolla, Dido, and Wolverene, passing through the different ranks of the ‘master's’ line, the officers then charged with the duties of navigation. In 1841 Evans was appointed master of the Fly, and for the next five years he was employed in surveying the Coral Sea, the great barrier reef of Australia, and Torres Straits. Beete Jukes, the geologist, was on board the Fly, and wrote an account of the expedition. Shortly after his return to England Evans married, on 12 Nov. 1846, Elizabeth Mary, eldest daughter of Captain Charles Hall, R.N., of Plymouth.

After a short spell of duty in the Isle of