LLOYD
,
DAVID
(
1752
-
1838
),
cleric, poet, and musician
;
b.
12 May 1752
at
Croes Cynon
(anglicized
Croscunnon
),
Llanbister, Rads.
, only son of
Thomas
Lloyd
of
Trevodick
, by
Mary
, daughter of
David
James
of
Little Croscunnon
. He
worked on his father's farm
but had some desultory schooling, during which he picked up some
Latin
and mathematics. He taught himself
Greek
, and in
1771
opened a small school
at
Llanbister
. There he prepared himself for holy orders and became
curate
at
Putley, Herefords.
, from
1785 to 1789
, when he was made
vicar
of
Llanbister
, where he remained until his death
3 March 1838
. He published in
1792
The Voyage of Life
, a poem somewhat after the manner of
Edward
Young
. A new and enlarged edition, dedicated to
bishop
Burgess
(q.v.)
, was published in
1812
under the title
Characteristics of Men, Manners and Sentiments or the Voyage of Life
. He also published
Horae Theologicae
(
London
,
1823
), and a march entitled ‘
The Loyal Cambrian Volunteers
,’ the only one of many pieces of music which he composed to be published. He was, in addition, a skilful
mechanician
, and is said to have
designed ‘perpetual motion’ engines
.
Bibliography:
-
Oxford Dictionary of National
Biography
;
-
Enwogion Cymru. A Biographical Dictionary of
Eminent Welshmen
, 1852
