Edward Samuel


Edward Samuel, Welsh clergyman, poet and translator, was encouraged by Humphrey Humphries, then bishop of Bangor, to train for the ministry, which he undertook at Oriel College, Oxford, from where, according to Thomas' History of the Diocese of St.Asaph, he graduated on 19 May 1693. He held in succession the Denbighshire livings of Betws Gwerfil Goch 1702–1721 and Llangar 1721–1748, with the latter holding concomitantly from 1735 to 1747 that of Llanddulas. His two sons followed him in the ministry.

Works

His poetic publications include Llu o Ganiadau, neu Casgliad o Carolau a Cherddi...o Gasgliad W.Jones, Bettws Gwerfil Goch ; he also composed Eos Ceiriog.
Samuel's sermons were published in 1731 and 1766, and his Bucheddau'r Apostolion a'r Efenglwyr in 1704
Especially noted for his translations, Samuel achieved lasting eminence with Gwyrionedd y Grefydd Cristionogol from Grotius's De veritate religionis Christianae. Other translations followed: Holl Ddyletswydd Dyn from Richard Allestree's The Whole Duty of Man ; Prif Ddyletswyddau Cristion from works by William Beveridge, one on the Book of Common Prayer, translations of two works, by Peter Nourse and William Wake respectively, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Thomas Parry in his ''History of Welsh Literature## praises Samuel for his luxuriant, composite and balanced sentences and fine literary achievement.