Gambold, William (l672-l728): a grammarian who published one of the first English books to be printed in Wales: Grammar of the Welsh Language (l727).

Garlick, Raymond (b. l926): b. London, poet, critic and important essayist in Anglo-Welsh literature.

Garmon (Germanus, 378-448): Bishop of Auxerre who led the Britons against the Saxons at Maes Garmon, Clwyd in 480. As a Christian champion, he is the hero of Sanders Lewis' play Buchedd Garmon (l937).

Gee, Thomas (l8l5-l889): publisher of Gwasg Gee, turning out books of poetry, grammar, dictionaries, newspapers etc., including Baner ac Amserau Cymru. His opinions greatly influenced Welsh politics in the later l9th century. Gwasg Gee ended in 2001.

Geoffrey of Monmouth (c. l090-1155): Norman-Welsh writer who began a whole new European literature of Arthuriana in which a benevolent king presided over a chivalric court in a Golden Age of Britain. His most important work is Historia Regum Britanniae.

George, William R. P (b. l9l2): b. Criccieth, Caerns; poet and biographer, has written two books about his uncle Lloyd George, a collection of the Eluned Morgan letters, and verse and plays for radio.

Gibbs, Scott (b. 1971): rugby player with Swansea; scored a last minute try to help defeat England 32-31 in 1999; he played in over 50 internationals.

Giggs, Ryan (b. l974): skilled footballer, signed for Manchester United as a teenager, made his debut for Wales v. Germany at age of seventeen; helped United win many Premier League championships.

Gilchrist Thomas, Sidney (l850-85): London born son of a Welsh civil servant, as a chemist working with his cousin Percy, he succeeded in eliminating phosphorus from the Bessemer converter to produce high quality steel--a process bought by Andrew Carnegi in the U.S. and used world wide.

Gildas (495-570): Latin scholar who established monasteries in Wales. His De Excidio Britannia presents Wales as a nation deserving of punishment; blames Vortigern for inviting the Saxons to Britain; praises Emrys Wledig; and refers to the victory of Arthur at the battle of Mount Badon.

Giraldus Cambrensis, (Gerald of Wales, c. l146-l223): important medieval writer whose important works include The Conquest of Ireland, The Topography of Ireland, The Journey through Wales, and A Description of Wales. Failing to become Bishop of St. David's to make it independent of Canterbury, Giraldus stressed that Wales was a distinct unit in terms of culture and customs, thus fulfilled the definition of a nation.

Glover, Roger (b. l956): from Bwlch, nr. Brecon; began at local eisteddfodau; regarded as one of the world’s great rock stars, the leader of the group Deep Purple.

Glyn, Gareth (b. 1961): from Machynlleth; a music composer with numerous awards whose works are performed world wide, Gareth is a member of the Gorsedd with an Honorary Doctorate, University.of Wales.

Glyndwr, Catrin (1380-1413): daughter of Owain, in l402 she married Edmund Mortimer. He died at Harlech in l409, and Catrin was imprisoned in London.

Goodman, Gabriel (l528-l60l): b. Ruthin, where he established Christ’s Hospital and a grammar school; he became Dean of Westminster, helped translate the Bishop’s Bible of l568 and William Morgan’s Bible.

Goodwin, Geraint (l903-4l): short-story writer and novelist who wrote The Heyday in the Blood (l936).

Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain (f. l792, The Assembly of Bards of the Isle of Britain: begun in London by Iolo Morganwg. It presides over the National Eisteddfod. Members may not all be poets, but all have contributed greatly to Welsh life and culture. Members can belong to one of three orders: The Ovate Order (Green Robe) obtained by examination or by recommendaton of the Gorsedd Board; the Order of Bards, Musicians and Literati (Blue Robe) the second step, obtained by passing the final Examination; and the Druidic Order (White Robe): restricted to those having made a substantial contribution of recognised national standard to Literature, Music, Scholarship or Art in Wales (or overseas).

Gough, Mathew (Mathau Goch, l386-l430): from Hanmer, Dee Valley, a solder with a distinguished service in France, where he was known as Mathago; ambassador of Henry Vl, captain of the Tower of London, he was killed defending it in Jack Cade’s rebellion.

Gould, Arthur (l864-l9l9): Welsh athlete, excelling in sprints, hurdles, and the high jump, and captain of the Welsh rugby side l8 times, including the l893 season when they first beat England in England.

Graber, George Alexander: (see Cordell, Alexander).

Granger, Clive W.J. (b. l934): b. Swansea, Nobel Prize winnng economist and statistician; Professor, of Economics, University of San Diego. With a host of major publications in economics and statistics, he introduced and helped develop concepts such as causality testing and the combination of forecasts.

Greville, Charles Francis (l749-l809): nephew of Sir William Hamilton, he created the port of Milford Haven by attracting New England whalers, and by obtaining a ship building contract from the navy (he also passed on his mistress Emma to his uncle).

Gregynog Press, the (f. l923): near Newtown, Mid-Wales that has become justifiably world famous for the superb quality of its publications. In l974, it became Gwasg Gregynog, publishing the best of Welsh authors.

Grey-Thompson, Tanni (b l969): top wheelchair athlete; Welsh female athlete of the past 25 years; won five London marathons; and at Sydney in 2000 repeated the winning of four gold medals won at Barcelona in l992. Tanni, who has the O.B.E, won another two Golds at Athens in 2004. Her autobiography is Seize the Day.

Griffith, Hugh (l9l3-l980): Anglesey character actor who played many lovable scoundrels, famous for his part as Squire Western in the movie Tom Jones, he won an Oscar for his role in Ben Hur. He appeared in many Hollywood movies.

Griffith, J. Griffith (l850-l9l9): from Glamorganshire, left Wales to become a prominent and controversial character in Los Angeles, where he worked as a journalist before joining a mining syndicate and becoming a millionaire. His donation of over 3000 acres to the city became the largest city park in the Unites States; he financed the building of the Griffith Observatory on Grffith Peak, named for him.

Griffith, John (Y Gohebydd, "the Correspondent," l82l-77): journalist who helped establish the Cymmrodorion; he was a keen supporter of the Eisteddfod and advocate of higher education.

Griffith, Kenneth (b. l92l): actor, Welsh nationalist who began his long film career in l94l; seen in Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Englishman who Went up a hill and Came down a Mountain and many others.

Griffith, Llewelyn Wyn (1890-1977): novelist, poet and translator; a popular broadcaster in Welsh and English; a major contributor to Welsh culture.

Griffith, Samuel Walker (1845-1920): b. Merthyr, he became Prime Minister and Chief Justice of Queensland, with enormous influence on the legal profession and administration of law. He helped draft Australia’s Commonwealth Constitution in l900.

Griffiths, Ann (1776-1805): b. Dolwar Fach, whose intense hymns, recited to her maid on the long walks to chapel each week are some of the most rhythmic and melodious in the Welsh language. Ann’s poems and hymns reflect her profound spiritual experiences and her poetic mastery, including "Wele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd" sung to the tune Cwm Rhondda.

Griffiths, Elwyn (b. l940): b. Denbigh, scientist working on the quality and safety of biologicals at the World Health Organization, Geneva, involved with the Pan American Health Organization’s study of the threat of bio-terrorism.

Griffiths, Ernest Howard (l85l-l932): from Brecon, Fellow of the Royal Society who brought much needed discipline to experimental data, thus furthering the progress of science by linking theoretical and experimental studies.

Griffiths, James (l890-1975): b. Ammanford, popular miners' leader, he was elected president of the South Wales Miners’ Federation in l934; Labour M.P. for Llanelli (l936-l970), Minister for National Insurance under Attlee in l945; Secretary of State for the Colonies in l950, and the first Secretary of State for Wales in l964. “Jim” was a much loved and respected Labour leader who helped Aneurin Bevan with the National Health Plan; he was a strong supporter of Welsh autonomy and the survival of its language and culture.

Griffiths, Jemma (b. l976): from Cardiff, now making a name for herself as a soul singer in the US as Jem, with a host of tv appearances.

Griffiths, J. Gwyn (1911-2004): Rhondda-born poet and scholar; helped found Cylch Cadwgan; translator of Aristotle's essay on poetry, publisher of many scholarly works, political pamphlets; edited Plaid's newspaper Y Ddraig Goch. A classicist and Egyptologist, he taught at Cairo and Oxford Universities; Professor Emeritus of Classics and Egyptology at the University of Wales, Swansea; his works include Triads and Trinity (1996).

Griffiths, Lydia (b. l98l): Wrexham star of West End musicals and British television who has soloed alongdide some famous names in show business.

Griffiths, Ralph (b. 1937): author of a number of important works on medieval Welsh history.

Griffiths, Tawe (b. l900): from Cwmbwrla, a Baptist minister who led the informal hymn singing for many years at National Eisteddfodau and at Hyde Park Corner, London.

Griffiths, Terry (b. 1949): world-class snooker player from Llanelli, who won the Embassy World Championship in l979 at his first attempt.

Griffiths, T. Elwyn: Honorary President and founder of Cymru a’r Byd that began in Cairo with Seren y Dwyrain (Star of the East) at the end of World War Two distributed to Welsh soldiers serving in the Middle East.

Griffiths, Thomas D. (l837-l9l4): Cardiganshire born, distinguished surgeon and President of the British Medical Association, practiced in Swansea where. he was recognized as the foremost consulting medical practitioner in South Wales. He founded the Swansea Nursing Institute and brought much needed reforms to the Swansea Hospital.

Grimes, William Francis (1905-l988): Director of the Institute of Archeology and professor, University of London, author of many scholarly books and articles, including The Prehistory of Wales.

Grove, Sir William Robert (1811-l896): Swansea-born, Justice of Britain's High Court. Professor of Physics at the London Institution, he enunciated the conservation of energy a year before von Helmholt and developed the two-fluid electric cell.

Gruffudd ap Cynan (1055-1137): b. Dublin; eventually established himself as King of Gwynedd, resisting rival Welsh and Normans to create a climate where arts could flourish and independence fostered.

Gruffudd ap Llywelyn (1007-1063): King of Gwynedd and Powys who became the only Welsh leader to unite Wales into a single kingdom. He recovered much of northeast Wales from English rule, defended the boundaries of Wales for a quarter of a century, and created a sense of national unity that endured for centuries despite later assimilation into England.

Gruffudd ap Maredudd ap Dafydd (1352-1382): one of the great poets after the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in l282. (His poem to Gwenhwyfar is considered his masterpiece).

Gruffuddd, Elis (l490-l552): b. Llanasa, Flints; chronicler and translator; a soldier in Calais, he copied many manuscripts of Welsh prose and poetry.

Gruffudd Hiraethog (d. l564): a poet who worked closely with William Salesbury in their efforts to preserve Welsh as a medium for salvation.

Gruffudd, Ioan (b. 1974): b. Cardiff; increasingly populsr actor who debuted at age of l4 on the popular, long-running Welsh language soap opera Pobol y Cwm, and went on to star in BBC television series as Poldark, later as Captain Horatio Hornblower, and in Great Expectations. His many Holywood films include Titanic, l02 Dalmations, Very Annie Mary, King Arthur, and Fantastic Four

Gruffydd, Robert Geraint (b. l928): from Tal y Bont, Merioneth; Professor of Welsh at Aberystwyth; Librarian at the National Library of Welsh, l980; Director of the Institute of Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies in l985.

Gruffydd, William John (1881-1954): poet and scholar, appointed Professor of Celtic at Cardiff University in l9l8; for 30 years edited Y Llenor (the Literateur). In response to the Archbishop of Wales' statement "There is no room in the world for small and snarling nations," Gruffydd replied, "There is no room in Wales for small and snarling prelates."

Gruffydd, William John (Elerydd, l9l6-): Cardiganshire poet, novelist and short story writer, Crown winner in l955 and l960, Archdruid in l983.

Guest family: in l763, John began the iron works that under his son Thomas was to become the largest in the world in mid-l9th Century. Sir Josiah John Guest was M.P. for Merthyr.

Guest, Lady Charlotte (1812-95): wife of Josiah Guest, Merthyr ironmaster; she is best known as the translator (with John Jones) of the eleven medieval Welsh tales known as the Mabinogion into English, published l846-l877.

Guest, Dr. George (Sior Hirael, d. 2003): Bangor-born, educated at King’s School, Chester; choirmaster at St. John’s College, Cambridge; director of the National Welsh Youth Choir. In l986, appointed director of Cardiff’s Llandaf Festival. He was an esteemed member of the Cymmrodorion and the Gorsedd.

Guinevere (Gwenhwyfar, 6th Century): wife of King Arthur; first mentioned in the Mabinogion.

Guto'r Glyn (1440-93): from Glyn Ceiriog, one of the first "poets of the gentry" to show feelings of Welsh nationhood inspired by the revolt of Glyndwr.

Guto Nyth Bran (Griffith Morgan, 1700-1737): b. Llwyncelyn; legendary runner “able to catch birds in flight, outrun race horses, and run seven miles from home and back before the kettle boiled.” He is remembered by Nos Galan Races (New Year’s Eve Races) begun in 1958.

Gwalchmai fab Gwyr: Gawain or Gauvain, one of Arthur’s knights, the essence of courtesy and bravery.

Gwenhwyfar: (see Guinevere).

Gwenffrewi: (see Winefride).

Gwenllian (12th century): daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan and sister of Owain Gwynedd, she led an army against the Normans at Cydweli Castle in 1136, but was killed at Maes Gwenllian. Her death was avenged by her two sons at the Battle of Crug Mawr that freed Ceredigion of Norman influence.

Gwenllian (Princess of Wales, 1282-1337): b. Abergwyngregrin, near Bangor; only daughter of Eleanor and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd; heir to Llywelyn, the last native ruler of Wales. After her father’s death, she was taken to Sempringham Priory, England, to be imprisoned for life.

Gwenn, Edmund (1875-1959): Glamorgan-born actor who went to Hollywood in 1940 to play roles such as benevolent shepherds and scientists or the occasional scoundrel; his Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street won him Best Supporting Actor Award in 1947.

Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy (the red bandits of Mawddwy, l6th C.): a notorious band of thieves in Merioneth distinguished by their red hair, first mentioned by Thomas Pennant in Tours of Wales (l778). Somne of their descendants may still lve in the area.

Gwyn, Richard (Richard White, 1577-84): the first Catholic martyr in Wales (for refusing to accept Elizabeth as head of the Church of England). He was canonized in l970.

Gwyn, Robert (1540-1592): Catholic priest, prolific Welsh writer; his Y Drych Cristionogawl (The Christian Mirror) was printed in a cave at Llandudno, l586-7.

Gwyneddigion Society (f. London 1770): created to revive the Eisteddfod and seek recognition for Welsh culture; published manuscripts and periodicals, and helped send John Evans to search for the so-called Welsh Indians.

Gymdeithas Genedlaethol Gymreig, Y (f. l922, National Welsh Society): a forerunner of Plaid Cymru: the Party of Wales.