Parker, John (l922-82): from Cardiff; journalist and novelist; feature editor at the Western Mail and news-editor with The South Wales Echo; later worked with the Welsh Office, at the U.N. in New York City, and as the Deputy Director of Information at the Home Office in London.

Parri, Dafydd (b. l926): from Dyffryn Conwy, Carns; a prolific, and successful children’s writer in Welsh, famed for his Cyfres Y Llewod (l975-80), and his stories about a sheep-dog named Cailo.

Parry, Lord Gordon, Baron of Neyland (1925-2004): teacher, librarian; writer, broadcaster and TV panel chairman; Chairman of the Wales Tourist Board, and president of man companies and institutions. A director of NWAF, his autobiography is Trinity l943-4, a Legacy for Life (l996).

Parry, Gwenlyn (b. l932): b. Deiniolen, Caerns; playwright, BBC producer,

Parry, John (l750-82): b. Nefyn, Caerns; blind harpist of the Williams Wynn family whose tune collections are a major part of the Welsh cultural tradition.

Parry, John (l775-l846): for a century his catechism for children, Rhodd Mam (1811), was a primary source of religious instruction.

Parry, Joseph (1841-1903): b. Merthyr, he went to Danville, Pa. at age l3 to work in steel mills. Won several prizes at National Eisteddfod and was sent to study at Royal Academy of Music on subscriptions from Welsh chapels in U.S. He became the first Professor of Music at University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He composed operas, oratorios; hymn tunes, including “Aberystwyth.”

Parry, Richard (l560-l633): from Flintshire, Dean of Bangor, he succeeded William Morgan as Bishop of St. Asaph in l604 and worked on the revised editons of the Welsh Bible (l620) and the Book of Common Prayer (l62l).

Parry, Robert Williams (l884-1956): from Dyffryn Nantlle, Caerns; author of one of the most well known of all modern Welsh poems, “Yr Haf,” giving him the title of Bardd y Haf (Poet of Summer).

Parry, Thomas (l904-85): teacher and librarian, Principal, Aberystwyth. His literary contributions include a survey of Welsh literature entitled Hanes Llenyddiaeth Gymraeg (The History of Welsh Literature, l945); an anthology of Welsh poetry titled Llyfryddiaeth i Lenyddiaeth Gymraeg, l976; and an edition of Dafydd ap Gwilym that established the poet’s authenticity and genius.

Parry, William John (l842-l927): from Bethesda, Caerns; workers’ leader who helped create the North Wales Quarrymen’s Union in l874 serving as Secretary and President. Author of several works in Welsh and English, he helped found the newspaper Y Werin in l885.

Parry-Jones, Daniel (l89l-l98l): b. Llangeler, Carms; clergyman who wrote four volumes of autobiography in which customs and farming methods of his time are detailed.

Parry Jones, Richard (b. l952): b. Bangor; motor rally driver. Began as an apprentice in 1952 to become vice-president for product development and quality and helped develop the Ford Focus for international markets, including the U.S., where it almost overnight became the best-selling car--voted the Car of the Year for 2000, an honor duplicated in Canada and Europe.

Parry Thomas, John Godfrey: (d. l926): from Wrexham, chief engineer at Leyland Motors in the early l920's, broke many speed records; killed in his car Babs at Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire, trying to break his own world record. Babs lay buried in the sand for many years before being dug up and placed in exhibition.

Parry-Williams, Thomas Herbert (l876-l975): b. Rhydd-ddu, Caerns; literary giant; scholar, poet and essayist, twice winner of the Chair and the Crown at Nationals; Chairman of the Dept of Welsh at University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. His last collection of poems and essays appears in Bro (Neighborhood) and Casgliad o Ysgrifau (Collection of Writings l984). From l920-32 he was Chair of Welsh at Aberystwyth.

Patrick, St. (4th century): Patricius (or Padrig) may have been born around 385 A.D. in Strathclyde or in southwest Wales. He vowed to serve God at Glyn Rhosyn (now St. David's). In his Life of St. David, Latin author Rhygyfarch tells of Patrick’s being shown Ireland in the distance and vowing to evangelize the distant land.

Patti, Adelina (l843-l9l9): popular American opera singer (who retired to a mock castle Craig y Nos (Rock of the Night) in the Swansea Valley, there to entertain many famous people and to give concerts to distinguished guests..

Payne, Ffransis George (b. l900): folk historian whose important studies in Welsh agriculture, folk customs and country life were completed at the National Folk Museum, San Ffagan.

Peate, Iorwerth Cyfeiliog (190l-82): the first curator of the National Welsh Folk Museum; San Ffagan, he was an important author, specializing in the culture of rural Wales. His essays and poems show his deep commitment to the preservation of the Welsh language and his lament for the loss of much that was good and honorable in Welsh life.

Peers, Donald (1908-1973): "The Cavalier of Song," Ammanford-born Donald debuted at New Theatre, Lowestoft in 1927, rising through the ranks of show business to become a great success in the 1940's and 50's and making many hit records. His theme song was "By a Babbling Brook." He was severely disabled in a freak accident on the stage in Australia in l97l.

Pelagius (350-4l8): theologian who taught the unspeakable heresy that man can live without sin and was thus condemned by Rome and combated by Germanus and St David.

Pencarreg Three, the: in November, l979, the Pencarreg television transmitter was switched off by Pennar Davies, Meredydd Evans, and Ned Thomas to contest the lack of Welsh broadcasts. Their act, punished by heavy fines, contributed greatly to the eventual success of the Welsh language channel.

Pencerdd: the chief bard of the Royal Courts of Wales before the Edwardian Conquest.

Pennant, Thomas: from Downing Hall, near Holywell, antiquarian and naturalist (who helped name New South Wales), whose Tours of Wales (l778, l78l) encouraged English interest in Wales.

Penry, John (l563-93): religious leader and pamphleteer who satirized the Church of England in the Martin Marprelate Tracts (l588-89); often imprisoned for his attacks on episcopacy, he petitioned Queen and Parliament for the translation of the Bible into Welsh, but executed for his extreme views.

Peter, John (Ioan Pedr, l833-77): b. Bala, Mer; self-taught master of many languages, college tutor and pastor and pioneer in the field of comparative philology.

Peters, Mike (b. l959): from Prestatyn, Flintshire; lead singer with the 80’s rock band The Alarm now a successful solo artist, he now presents Raidio Wales’ Bedrock programme. The Alarm and resurrected itself in 2003. Mike appeared in the movie Dead Man Walking.

Philanthropic Order of the True Ivorites: a Friendly Society founded in Wrexham in l836 to give members financial support during sickness and to promote the Welsh language and culture.

Philips, Katherine (l632-1664): b. London, raised in Picton Castle, married to James Philips M.P. and Mayor of Haverfordwest), her poetry and membership of the Society of Friendship made her the first woman writer in Britain to receive professional and public recognition. Her collected works was published in l993.

Phillips, Edgar (Trefin, l889-l962); Penbrokeshire, soldier in WWl, then Welsh teacher; Chair winner and prominent member of the Gorsedd; Archdruid from l960-62; and writer of poetry for children.

Phillips, Eluned (b. l9l5): from Cenarth, poet and biographer, the only woman to have won the Crown twice at the National Eisteddfod ( l967 and l983).

Phillips, Sian (b. l934): internationally-known actress from Bettws, Carms, perhaps best remembered for her television role as Livia in I, Claudius, she began in BBC Radio alongside Dylan Thomas and Richard Burton when she was only eleven years old. Once married to Peter O' Toole, the bilingual actress's long, distinguished film and stage career has included Marlene, a tribute to Marlene Dietrich (depicted); a starring role in the musical version of Sunset Boulevard, and many other stage and television triumphs.

Phillips, Thomas (l80l-67): b. Llanelli; Mayor of Newport during the Chartists March; a successful London barrister and author of a masterly refutation of the negativity of the Blue Book Commissioners.

Physicians of Myddfai: a family of Carmarthenshire doctors whose skills in herbal medicine were famous throughout Europe to the end of the l8th Century.

Picton, Sir Thomas (1758-1815): a Pembrokeshire soldier appointed governor of Trinidad for services against the Spanish, distinguished himself in the Peninsular Campaign of Wellington, and died leading The Thin Red Line at Quatre Bras, Waterloo.

Pierce, Thomas Jones (l903-64): b. Liverpool; on the staff of the History Dept at Bangor, he pioneered research into the structure of medieval Welsh society, wrote papers on the Laws of Hywel Dda and human settlements in Gwynedd: Chair of Medieval Welsh History; also President of the Cambrian Archeological Association in l964.

Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales: formed in l925 at Pwllheli by Saunders Lewis and friends to further the aims of self-government and to try to stop the decline in language and culture. In l966, Gwynfor Evans was elected at Carmarthen to become the party's first M.P. It paid a crucial part in the l997 referendum that gave Wales its first Assembly and by l999 had become the second largest Welsh political party, making inroads into previously impenetrable Labour strongholds. Dayfdd Iwan became Chairman in 2004.

Poets of the Gentry (l3th and l4th centuries): after the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, landowning classes encouraged a new class of professional poet who praised the hospitality of the patron. They included such masters as Dafydd ap Gwilym, Sion Cent, Lewys Glyn Cothi, and Tudur Aled.

Poole, Edwin (l85l-95): b. Oswestry, a journalist, printer and county hisotiran of Breconshire and founder of the Brecon and Radnor Express in l889.

Pope, Mal (b. l960): from Brynhyfryd, Swansea; musician, songwriter, and performer of international fame who began sensing at chapel and at the Gospel Hall, Manselton. His career guided by Elton John, he has made numerous television appearances in Britain, the US and Europe, including the highly popular “The Mal Pope Show.”

Potato Jones (birthdate and birthplace uknown): Ih his 50’s, David John Jones was one of three Welsh sea captains (along with corn Cob Jones and Ham n’ Chips Jones) who ran guns to Spain to fight Franco. On the Marie Llewellyn, sailing from Swansea, he had guns under sacks of potatoes.

Povey, Michael (b. l950): actor, and writer for television, has helped create many programs in the Welsh language.

Powel, David (l552-98): historian and scholar whose Historie of Cambria, now called Wales (l584) was the standard work on Welsh history for 200 years and of immense importance to later historians.

Powell, Anthony (l905-2000): novelist famed for his l2-volume novel A Dance to the Music of Time. The son of an officer in the Welsh Regiment, he served in W.W.11 with the same regiment.

Powell, Philip (l594-l646): from Breconshire, educated as a Catholic priest at Louvain, arrested in the Civil War and executed in London.

Powell, Rees (l638-65): a Parliamentarian, Governor of Tenby, commanded Cromwell’s’ forces in West Wales before negotiating with the King over a pay dispute. Sentenced to death, he was reprieved by Cromwell.

Powell, Vavasor (l6l7-70): Puritan evangelist whose enthusiastic preaching swept throughout Wales in the latter half of the 17th century.

Powell, William (Gwilym Eryri, l84l-l9l0): b. Beddgelert, steward of Bryn y Felin Copper Mine, came to Wisconsin in l865 to become leading figure in Welsh-American circles, taking settlers to the Dakotas, helped organize the Eisteddfod at Chicago World’s Fair in l893.

Poyer, John (d. l649): merchant and military commander who committed Pembroke to Parliament against the King, but whose acceptance of Prince Charles’s commissin in l647 began the Second Civl War. Later opposing Parliament, he was executed.

Preece, Sir William Henry (l834-l9l3): from Caernarfon, a major figure in the development of wireless telegraphy and the telephone in Britain. Studied under Michael Faraday, became an engineer with the Post Office, and worked with and encouraged Marconi. He introduced the Bell telephone to Britain.

Price, Henry (l899): b. Neath; philosopher who won acclaim for his pioneering work on perception and logic. In l935, he was appointed Mykeham Professor of logic and New College, Oxford.

Price, Hugh (l495-l574): the founder and principal benefactor of Jesus College, Oxford, for centuries closely associated with Wales.

Price, John (l502-55): scholar, served under Oliver Cromwell in the administration of Wales and the Marches. In l546, he published the first book in the Welsh language: Yn y Lhyvr Hwnn (In this Book).

Price, Joseph Tregelles (l784-l854): iron master and Quaker philanthropist whose management of the Neath Abbey Iron Works made it an important center of Welsh industry in the early part of the l9th century. David Thomas “father of the US anthracite industry” began his career here.

Price, Kathryn: b in Gwent, she is an internationally acclaimed young cellist, debuttng at Carneie Recital Hall in June, l998, with many works commissioned especially for her, she has played at the World’s most prestigious concert halls. Her cello was made in l706.

Price, Dame Margaret (b. l94l): internationally known soprano with a distinguished career in concert, opera, and recital. Acclaimed for her wide repertoire, debuted with the Welsh National Opera.

Price, Phillip (b. l967): Pontypridd, rookie in the 2002 Ryder Cup who beat the world’s Nr.2 golfer Phil Mickelson to help Europe defeat the U.S.

Price, Dr. Richard (l723-9l): philosopher and economist from Llangeinor, Glamorgan, author of Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty (l776), one of the most important contributions to the pamphlet literature of the American Revolution. Price enumerated the principle that every community has the right to govern itself, but subject to a central administration on matters that were of common concern. His attempts to resolve the differences between Britain and the Colonies came too late. In l778, he was offered U.S. citizenship.

Price, Thomas (Carhuanawc, l787-l848): a prolific author, passionate about Welsh culture, helping Lady Guest translate the Mabinogion. He advocated the use of Welsh in schools, an important figure in the Welsh Manuscripts Society and Welsh Minstrelsy Society.

Price, Thomas (1852-1909): b. Brymbo, near Wrexham, the first Labour Party premier of an Australian state (South Australia) in 1905. A former mason, he worked on the building in which he later acted as Premier and introduced important legislation.

Price, Dr. William (l800-93): at Cardiff Assizes in l884, he was tried for burning the body of his infant son Iesu Grist (Jesus Christ) in a ceremony of his own invention. His acquittal established the legality of cremation in British law). A leader of the Newport Rising in l839, he escaped to France,

Prichard, Caradog (l904-80): b. Bethesda, Caerns; poet and novelist, winner of the Crown for three successive years, much of his work deals with the effects of insanity, including Un Nos Ola Leuad (One Night of the Last Moon, l961).

Prichard, Rhys (Yr Hen Ficer, l579-l644): vicar of Llandovery; his Canwyll y Cymry (the Candle of the Welsh (1681) was to be recited by generations of children, earning a special place in history.

Prichard, Thomas J. (l790-l862): from Builth, acted in London under the name Mr Jerreries, returned to Wales to write Welsh Minstrelsy and achieved fame with The Adventures and Vagaries of Twm Shon Catti in l828.

Prince of Wales: following the 1294 Statute of Rhuddlan that made Wales a province of England, Edward lst brought his bride to Caernarfon to give birth to their son Edward, given the title Prince of Wales and Count of Chester in l301. Since that date, the first-born son of the English monarch has been given these titles. The German motto of the Prince of Wales, Ich Dien (I Serve) came from an inscription beneath the ostrich feathers on the helmet of the King of Bohemia, killed at Crecy.

Princess of Wales: see entries for Gwenllian and Spencer, Lady Diana.

Protheroe, Daniel (l866-l934): musician who left Ystradgynlais in l885 to begin a career as a choral conductor and hymn writer at Scranton, Pa.

Pryce, Jonathan (b. l947): from Holywell, studied at RADA, began a stage career at Nottingham, going on to the Royal Shakespeare Company. His singing roles have included Miss Saigon on Broadway; his movies, include Evita (where he played Peron), Glengarry Glen Ross, Tomorrow Never Dies.

Pryce, Tom (1949-1977): from Ruthin, Denbighshire, destined to become a great racing car driver, but killed in an accident in S. Africa two years after winning the World Race of Champions.

Pryce-Jones, Arthur Glyn: b. Penarth, contemporary choral director, began with the Welsh National Opera, worked with D'Oyly Carte Opera and founded the Noel children's choir; Musical Director of Northern Ballet since l992.

Pryce-Jones, Pryce: founder of the world's first mail order business in l859 at Newtown, Montgomeryshire. Many of the area's farmers lived in isolated valleys and had little time or suitable transportation to come into town. The Warehouses, packed with goods, answered their needs. It began a service that quickly attracted companies such as Montgomery Ward in the U.S, with its even greater distances and scattered population.

Prys, Edmund (l543-l623): scholar at Cambridge, parish rector, a prolific poet of debate, of thanks, of religion and morals, and even of a game of football. His metrical Psalms, Salmau Can remained in common use until late l8th Century.

Prys, Elis (Y Doctor Coch, l5l2-94): from Ysbyty Ifan, Denbs; helped Cromwell dissolve the Welsh monasteries; was M.P. for Merioneth and Sheriff of four North Wales counties and a member of the Council of the Marches.

Prys, Tomos (l565-l634): from Plas Iolyn, Denbs. a soldier and poet who fought in Flanders and in many campaingns including defense against the Armada before becoming a pirate.

Pryse, Robert J. (Gweirydd ap Rhys, l807-89): from Llanbadrig, Agnlesey; taught himself to read and write; a poet and historian, an authority on Welsh language and literature, important contributor to the Welsh Dictionary, and Eisteddfod prize winner.

Prys-Jones, Arthur G. (b. l888): b. Denbigh; teacher and school inspector, helped found Cardiff's Little Theatre, compiler of poetry anthologies; President of English language section of Yr Academi Gymreig (l970).

Prys-Thomas, Lewis (l9l6-69): head of Wales School of Architecture, Cardiff; a consultant for many government buildings in Wales.

Puddicombe, Anne (l836-l908): from Newcastle Emlyn; her romances about the common folk of Wales that made her a best selling author and influenced a later generation of Welsh novelists and dramatists.

Pugh, Edward (l76l-l8l3): b. Ruthin, Denbs: painter and writer on topography who illlustrated his own tour of North Wales that helped begin the tourist trade in that spectacular region.

Pugh, Ellis (l656-l727): b. Dolgellau, Mer. Quaker minister who settled in Gwynedd, Pa. in l687; author of the first book published in the Welsh language in North America (see Anerch I’r Cymru).

Pugh, Vernon (l945-2003): from the Amman Valley, chairman of the International Ruygby Board, former chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union Board, World Rugby Cup director, and a key figure in the professionalism of rugby union. A barrister, he played for Cardiff High School Old Boys before his work with the IRB, which included bringing Italy into the Six Nations’ Championship and setting up the Heineken Cup.

Puw, Huw (l663-l743): from Tal y Llyn, Mer. athlete and priest, who deserves mention for his feat of jumping over the heads of his parishioners on their way to church one day, causing his mother to die of fright. His monument is at the Ashmolean, Oxford.