John Walters (11 June 1760 – 28 June 1789) was a Welsh Anglican priest and poet.

Life

Walters was the eldest son of John Walters, a clergyman and lexicographer, and he was born on 11 June 1760 in Llandough,

Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeName = Chapman code , Replace = * West Glamorgan * Mid Glamorgan * South Glamorgan , Motto ...

, south Wales. He was educated at

Cowbridge Grammar School Cowbridge Grammar School was one of the best-known schools in Wales until its closure in 1974. It was replaced by Cowbridge Comprehensive School. Founded in the 17th century by Sir John Stradling and refounded by Sir Leoline Jenkins, it had c ...

and

Jesus College, Oxford Jesus College (in full: Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship St ...

matriculating Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now. ...

in 1777 obtaining his

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

degree in 1781. During his time in Oxford, he was sub-librarian at the

Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...

. He became headmaster of Cowbridge Grammar School in 1783 and headmaster of Ruthin School in the following year, when he was also promoted to

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

. Walters was later appointed as rector of Efenechtyd,

Denbighshire Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...

. He died on 28 June 1789 in

Ruthin Ruthin ( ; cy, Rhuthun) is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales, in the south of the Vale of Clwyd. It is Denbighshire's county town. The town, castle and St Peter's Square lie on a hill, skirted by villages such as Pwllglas and ...

, survived by his wife and two daughters.

Works

Walters was a noted poet, publishing ''Poems with Notes'' in 1780 whilst still a university student. ''Translated Specimens of Welsh Poetry'' followed in 1782. Other works included an edition and translation of

Llywarch Hen Llywarch Hen (, "Llywarch the Old"; c. 534 – c. 608), was a prince and poet of the Brythonic kingdom of Rheged, a ruling family in the Hen Ogledd or "Old North" of Britain (modern southern Scotland and northern England). Along with Taliesin, A ...

's poems (published in ''The History of Wales'' by Warrington in 1788) and sermons. A new edition of Toxophilus printed by R.Marsh of Wrexham in 1788. It was edited with an introduction by the Rev. John Walters, M.A., Master of Ruthin Grammar School. This date coincides with the formation of the Royal British Bowmen, in Wrexham, in 1787!

References

2. Bernard Dennis www.bernarddennis.co.uk 1760 births 1789 deaths Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford 18th-century Welsh Anglican priests Welsh educators Welsh poets Translators from Welsh 18th-century British translators {{Wales-writer-stub