Aberconway, Lord (Henry MacLaren, l914-2003): an industrialist with ship-building interests; President of the Royal Horticultural Society 196l-84, he gave his wonderful gardens at Bodnant (Conwy Valley) to the National Trust in l948. In l939 he had met Nazi deputy leader Rudolph Hess in an unsuccessful attempt to avert war.

Aberdare, Henry, 1st Baron (1815-1895): Liberal M.P. for Merthyr. As Home Secretary, he was responsible for passage of the Liquor Licensing Act of 1872 that alienated brewers and publicans and led to the defeat of his party.

Abergele Martyrs: in July l969, William Jones and George Taylor were killed on the railway lines at Abergele by accidental detonation of explosives they were carrying to disrupt the Investiture ceremonies of Charles, the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle.

Ablett, Noah (l883-l935): b. Rhondda Valley, an important miners’ leader who inspired Labour leaders Aneurin Bevan, James Griffiths and Lewis Jones.

Abraham, William (Mabon, l842-l922): popular, influential miners' leader who supported adoption of the sliding scale, gaining some concessions and a holiday on the first Monday of each month, "Mabon's Monday." Lib-Lab M.P. for Rhondda in l885, he became the first president of the South Wales Miners’ Federation in l989.

Abse, Dannie (b.l923): b. Cardiff; dramatist, novelist, and medical doctor concerned with political and social events of the l930's, and seven volumes of poetry.

Abse, Leo (b.1917): lawyer; Labour M.P for Pontypool and Torfaen (1958-97, brother of Dannie.

Adam of Usk (l352-l430): historian whose Chronicon Adae de Usk details the Owain Glyndwr rebellion.

Adams, Sam (b. l934): from Gilfach Goch, poet, critic and editor. Adfer: translated as "to restore," a group founded in l97l dedicated to the achievement of Welsh mono-lingualism in the heart lands of the language that still miraculously remain in north and west Wales.

Admiral Insurance (f. l993): a Cardiff company guided by American born chief executive Henry Engelhardt that is the most valuable insurance company in Wales and its leader on the Stock Exchange.

Aizlewood, Mark (b. l959): b. Newport; international footballer who learned Welsh as an adult to become a more successful commentator with BBC.

Alford, Jim (l9l4-2004): b. Cardiff, middle distance runner and first Welsh national athletics coach, winner of Olympic Gold in the mile in l938 at Sydney, he introduced many techniques into Wales that later helped Steve Ovett, Herb Eelliot and Lynn Davies. During WWll, he was a squadron leader with RAF.

Alice Rowena (mid 5th C.): daughter of Hengist, encouraged Saxon rule over southern Britain, giving her name “Rowena’s children” to the English nation.

Almedha, St. (5-6 century): early Christian martyr, daughter of Brychan; celebrated August lst.

Ambrosius (Emrys Wledig, 5th C.): named by Gildas as a leader against the Saxons and by Nennius as a rival of Vortigern (Gwrtheyrn)

Amerik, Richard (b. 1445): a Bristol merchant whose family came from Meryk Court, Glamorgan; the main investor in the second transatlantic voyage of John Cabot in 1498, and after whom, according to some, America may be named.

Anarawd (d. 9l6): eldest son of Rhodri Mawr who ruled the Kingdom of Gwynedd after defeating the Mercians. Ancient Britons, the Most Honourable and Loyal Society of (f. l7l5): first official Welsh society in London.

Andrews, Elizabeth (1882-1960): b. Rhondda; an early suffragette, recruited by the new Labour Party as its first woman organizer; her evidence to the Sankey Commission led to the inception of pit head baths at the collieries; she campaigned for the first nursery school in Wales (opened in the Rhondda in 1938).

Aneirin (7th Century): poet from Welsh Strathclyde, composer of Y Gododdin, in which the name Arthur first appears.

Angharad (l066-ll62): wife of Gruffudd ap Cynan, King of Gwynedd; mother of Owain Gwynedd and Gwenllian.

Anglesey, lst Marquess of (Henry William Paget, l768-l854): of Plas Newydd (now owned by the National Trust), Viceroy of Ireland, commander of cavalry at Waterloo, where he lost a leg.

Anglo-Welsh: a term coined in the l920's to describe Welsh authors who write in English, including Dylan Thomas, Richard Llewellyn and others.

Antur (Liberty): the dog that showed the starving Welsh settlers in Patagonia that the abundant guanaco and hares could be a source of food.

Antur Teifi: f. l979:, a southwest Wales community-based economic and social development company organized to promote prosperity by forging partnerships and providing tools for development. In 2004, with Cambrian Training Company, it spearheaded a three-year European project to secure the future and identity of regional food dishes and improve the visitor experience.

Anwyl, Sir Edward (l866-l9l4): b. Chester, Celtic scholar, university professor and notable leader of Welsh cultural life.

Ap Evan, Enoch (d. l633): b. Clune, Shropshire, hanged for killing his other and brother with an axe. London pamphlets that described his “barbarous and most cruel act” helped begin a thriving market in tabloid-style journalism that has never died.

Ap Gwilym, Gwynn (b. l950): b. Bangor; editor, poet, translator, secretary of the Welsh section of Yr Academi Gymreig, co-editor of Barn and chairman of Cymdeithas Cerdd Dafod.

Ap Hywel, Elin (b. l962): from Colwyn Bay, a leading Welsh-language poet whose work has been translated into many European languages.

Apperley, Charles J. (Nimrod, l779-l843): Wrexham, author of ten books, including Nimrod’s Hunting Tours (l835), The life of a Sportsman (l842).

Arddu: the Dark Lord of the Dead, the spirit of winter and death.

Ardwyn Singers (Cantorion Ardwyn Caerdydd, f. l964): Cardiff-based mixed choir that has become internationally known for its “Ardwyn Sound,” performing in concerts and recordings.

Arianrhod: sky goddess who guards the heavens, appearing as a human silhouette in a black sky blazing with stars.

Ar Lôg (for Hire): a much-traveled popular folk music group in Wales during the l970’s and 80’s with a high level of musicianship, making full use of the harp and including clog dancing.

Armstrong-Jones, Anthony, Earl of Snowdon (b.1930): a society photographer born in England to a prominent Welsh family; once married to Princess Margaret.

Arthur (5-6th Century): warrior mentioned by Gildas and Nennius who first appears in the Welsh language poem Y Gododdin. The legends connected to Arthur are Wales’s great contribution to the culture of Europe and to the world, with an International Arthurian Society and hundreds of scholarly books published each year (as well as movies, musicals and plays).

Ashley, Laura (d. l985): home furnishings and fashion designer. The Laura Ashley Foundation began its Fellowship Awards in l998.

Asser (9th Century A.D): Welsh-born bishop of Sherborne, counselor to Alfred of Wessex, about whom he wrote his Life of Alfred.

Aubrey, William (the Great Civilian, l529-95): Brecon; Fellow of Jesus and All Souls Colleges; Judge Advocate and Church reformer, Master of Requests at Court.