# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Evans, Daniel Silvan

​EVANS, DANIEL SILVAN (1818–1903), Welsh scholar and lexicographer, born at Fron Wilym Uchaf, Llanarth, Cardiganshire, on 11 Jan. 1818, was son of Silvanus Evans by his wife Sarah. Having commenced to preach as a member of Penycae congregational church, he entered the academy of Dr. Phillips of Neuaddlwyd with a view to the congregational ministry. In1843 he thought of emigrating to America, but later resolved to seek orders in the established church. In 1846 he entered St. David's College, Lampeter, where he was senior scholar, and was ordained deacon in 1848 and priest in 1849. His first curacy ​was at Llandegwining and Penllech, Carnarvonshire (1848-52), his second at Llangian in the same district (1852-62). In 1862 he became rector of Llanymawddwy near Machynlleth, and in 1876 exchanged to the neighbouring rectory of Llanwrin; the greater part of his life's work was done in these two retired parsonages. Evans made his first appearance before the Welsh public as a writer of verse; lyrical poems and hymns from his pen were published in 1843 and in 1846. But the study of the Welsh language soon absorbed all his attention. Already in 1847 he was planning the English-Welsh dictionary which was his first considerable work (Archæologia Cambrensis, first series, vol. ii. (1847), p. 282). Four years after his ordination the first volume of this appeared, and henceforward he was engaged without intermission in Welsh literary and philological studies. Through all his labours as editor and translator he kept steadily in view the more ambitious lexicographical work which was to be the coping-stone of his career, viz. the 'Dictionary of the Welsh Language,' planned on a great scale, of which the first part appeared in 1887. The heavy task, however, was carried no further than the letter E when he died. In later life Evans's eminence as a Welsh scholar received full recognition. In 1868 he received the honorary degree of B.D. from Lampeter; from 1875 to 1883 he was lecturer in Welsh in the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth; in 1897 he was elected to a research fellowship in Jesus College, Oxford, and in 1901 the newly established University of Wales gave him the honorary degree of D.Litt. He was made honorary canon of Bangor in 1888, prebendary of Llanfair in 1891, and chancellor of the cathedral in 1895. From January 1872 to August 1875 he was editor of 'Archæologia Cambrensis,' but archæology was not one of his special interests; his reputation rests on his encyclopaedic knowledge of the whole range of Welsh literature and his skill in using this material as a lexicographer. He died on 12 April 1903, and was buried at Cemmes. He married Margaret, daughter of Walter Walters of Hendre, Cardiganshire, and left a son, John Henry Silvan Evans, who assisted his father in his great dictionary.
The 'Dictionary of the Welsh Language,' published by Spurrell of Carmarthen, appeared as follows: A, 1887; B, 1888; C, 1893; Ch, D, 1896; E-Enyd, 1906. The whole extends to 1923 pages, all words of importance being illustrated by examples of their use. Evans also published:
* 'Blodau leuainc,' poems, Aberystwyth, 1843.
* 'Telynegion,' lyrics, 1846 (2nd edit. 1881).
* 'English and Welsh Dictionary' (Denbigh), vol. i. 1352; vol. ii. 1858.
* 'Llythyraeth yr laith Gymraeg' (on Welsh orthography), Carmarthen, 1861.
* 'Ysten Sioned' (jointly with John Jones), a collection of folk stories, Aberystwyth, 1882 (2nd edit., Wrexham, 1894).
* 'Telyn Dyfi,' poems, Aberystwyth, 1898.
Evans edited, among other works, Ellis Wynne's 'Bardd Cwsg' (Carmarthen, 1853; 4th edit. 1891); the works of Gwallter Mechain (Rev. Walter Davies) (Carmarthen, 1868, 3 vols.); the Cambrian Bibliography of William Rowlands (Llanidloes, 1869); the works of Ieuan Brydydd Hir (Carnarvon, 1876); the second edition of Stephens's 'Literature of the Kymry' (1876); the 'Celtic Remains' of Lewis Morris (for the Cambrian Archaeological Association, London, 1878). Evans was editor of the 'Brython,' a Welsh magazine issued at Tremadoc from 1858 to 1863, and contributed to Skene's 'Four Ancient Books of Wales' (Edinburgh, 1866) the translation into English of three of the four MSS. of ancient poetry therein edited.
[Who's Who, 1902; Y Geninen, 1905; T. R. Roberts, Dict. of Eminent Welshmen; Byegones (Oswestry), 22 April 1903.]
J. E. L.