John Gwenogvryn Evans

John Gwenogvryn Evans (20 March 1852 – 25 March 1930) was a Welsh palaeographic expert and literary translator. His work on medieval Welsh manuscripts constituted a substantial number of translations; he was awarded a Doctor of Letters from both the University of Oxford and the University of Wales for his contributions to the field of Welsh literature.

Born in Wales in 1852, Evans grew up speaking Welsh and only began learning English at the age of 19. He studied to be a Unitarian minister and led multiple congregations until his poor health required him to stop preaching. He then turned to manuscript research and translation, which became the primary focus of most of his professional life.

Evans is most well-known for his handwritten reproductions of intricate lettering and iconography in his translations, as well as his rivalry with John Morris-Jones and his role in establishing the National Library of Wales. His body of work is currently housed by the National Library. Provided by Wikipedia