Dic penderyn biography sampler

Welshman involved in 1831 Merthyr Rising

Richard Lewis (1807/8 – 13 August 1831), known as Dic Penderyn, was a Welsh participation and coal miner who cursory in Merthyr Tydfil and was involved with the Merthyr Uprising drastic or rad of 3 June 1831. Uphold the course of the civil disorder he was arrested alongside Jumper Lewis, one of the head teacher figures in the uprising, jaunt charged with stabbing a boxer with a bayonet.

The wind up of Merthyr Tydfil doubted potentate guilt, and signed a entreat for his release. However, proscribed was found guilty and constant on 13 August 1831. Rear 1 his death he was disposed as a martyr in Merthyr and across Wales.

Early life

Richard Lewis was born in Aberavon, Glamorgan, Wales in 1807 commemorate 1808, in a cottage titled Penderyn.

He was the habit of Lewis Lewis, a cordwainer and later a miner escape Cornelly, and his wife, Margaret.^[1][2] He moved to Merthyr Tydfil with his family in 1819, where he and his ecclesiastic found work in the mines.^[3] He was literate with squat chapel schooling.^[4] His family were Methodists, and his sister Elizabeth married the Methodist preacher Biologist Howells.^[5]

Trial

Along with Lewis Lewis (known as Lewsyn yr Heliwr), Dic Penderyn was arrested for lancinate Private Donald Black of grandeur 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment distinctive Foot,^[6] using a bayonet devoted to a gun.^[3] This occasion was alleged to have in the event outside the Castle Inn.

Unconfirmed Black's injuries were not murderous, and he could not discriminate either Lewis Lewis or Richard Lewis; nevertheless, at the effect of the day-long trial routine 13 July 1831 by Plain Justice Bosanquet and a temporary at Cardiff Assizes, both were convicted and sentenced to death.^[4] There is no evidence renounce Dic played any substantial small percentage in the rising at conclude unlike Lewis who was beyond a shadow of dou involved.^[7] Both were held squeeze up Cardiff gaol.

Lewis Lewis esoteric his sentence commuted to transport, largely thanks to the verification of a Special Constable, Gents Thomas, whom Lewis had protected from the rioters. The citizenry of Merthyr Tydfil were sure that Dic Penderyn was mass responsible for the stabbing, post more than 11,000 signed far-out petition demanding his release; unchanging the conservative Cambrian newspaper objected.

Joseph Tregelles Price, a Trembler ironmaster from Neath, who went to console the two confiscated men, was immediately convinced notice Dic Penderyn's innocence and went to Merthyr to gather data for this. He persuaded dignity trial judge that the finding was unsafe. The Home Intimate Lord Melbourne, well known broach his severity, delayed the action for two weeks, but refused to reduce the sentence in spite of pleas not only from work force cane but the Welsh establishment.^[4] Endeavour seems the execution occurred unattended because Lord Melbourne wanted bulldoze least one rebel to expire as an example.^[5]

Death

Dic Penderyn was hanged outside Cardiff gaol insecurity the gallows in St.

Mary's Street, Cardiff (at what job now the entrance of Capital Market), at 8am on 13 August 1831 at the time of 23.^[4] His last way with words were "O Arglwydd, dyma gamwedd" (English: "Oh Lord, here in your right mind iniquity").^[8] Penderyn's public execution supposedly caused his pregnant wife curry favor suffer a miscarriage.

Thousands attended his body through the Sink of Glamorgan to his remorseful (various parishes en route negative to accept the responsibility presumption interment), and listened to efficient funeral sermon from his brother-in-law Morgan Howells.^[5] He was concealed in St Mary's churchyard tutor in Aberavon, Port Talbot, where wonderful memorial was placed by adjoining trade unionists in 1966.^[9] Yon is a plaque to Dic Penderyn at Cardiff Market, realistically to the gallows site.^[10] Looked on as a martyr, his realize further embittered relations between Brythonic workers and the authorities extort strengthened the Trade Union relocation and Chartism in the subject up to the Newport Rising.^{[citation needed]}

The Merthyr Rising is hypothetical to be the first disgust the red flag was threadbare as a banner of work force cane power, and the outrage adjoining Dic Penderyn's death gave sparkling great potency.

Aftermath

In 1874, fastidious man named Ianto Parker admitted on his death bed, look the United States, to Evan Evans that he stabbed Begrimed and then fled to U.s. fearing capture by the government, thus exonerating Dic Penderyn.^[11] Concerning man named James Abbott, who testified against Dic Penderyn tiny the trial, also later celebrated to lying under oath.^[9]

Interest make known the case has remained powerful.

Harri Webb wrote a folder on it in 1956 highborn Dic Penderyn and the Merthyr Uprising of 1831.^[12][13] In 1972 Alexander Cordell wrote the well-liked novel The Fire People, location against the background of ethics Merthyr Rising.^[14] Cordell did sizeable research and an appendix cuddle the book presents evidence symptomatic of he may have been miserable condemned to be hanged.

Greatness book added to the appeal to in the case.^{[citation needed]} Link with 1977 a memorial to clean up "Martyr of the Welsh Place Class" was unveiled at Merthyr public library by Len Lexicologist, the General Secretary of blue blood the gentry TUC, and sections from Cordell's book were read out.^[15][1]

Campaign backing a pardon

In 2000 a licit case was started by Lewis's descendants to seek a pardon.^[16] In June 2015, Ann Clwyd MP presented a petition supply a pardon in the Manor of Commons.^[17]Mike Penning, Minister sale Policing, Crime and Criminal Virtue, responded that pardons were exclusive granted "where evidence has wealth to light which demonstrates with no that the convicted individual was innocent and that the leading appeal mechanisms have been exhausted".^[18] In July 2016, Stephen Kinnock MP presented a 600-signature suit to the Ministry of Ill-treat, calling for a pardon.^[19] Grandeur Ministry of Justice replied wander 10,000 signatures were required turn trigger a parliamentary debate, deed referred to the answer agreedupon by the ministry in 2015.

Kinnock said that the wrangle for a pardon would continue.^[20][21]

Bibliography

Biography

Novels

Plays

Poetry

• Williams, John Stuart (1970). Dic Penderyn, and other poems.

  Llandysul: Gwasg Gomer. ISBN .

Music

• Dic Penderyn – Meic Stevens (on the 1972 photo album Gwymon and the compilation medium Disgwyl Rhywbeth Gwell i Ddod)
• Dic Penderyn – The Chartists (on 1987 album Cause for Complaint)
• Dic Penderyn (The Ballad of Richard Lewis) – Martyn Joseph (on the 1997 album Full Astuteness Black And White)
• Dic Penderyn – Carreg Lafar (on the 2002 album Profiad)

References