Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hughes, Robert (1744?-1785)
HUGHES, ROBERT (Robin Ddu o Fon) (1744?–1785), Welsh poet, was born at Caint Bach, in the parish of Penmynydd in Anglesey about 1744. After receiving a good education under the care of the vicar of the parish, he became a schoolmaster at Amlwch, and afterwards spent twenty years in London as barrister's clerk. Ultimately his health failed; he returned to Wales, acted as a schoolmaster at Carnarvon, and dying of consumption 27 Feb. 1785, aged 41, was buried in the parish churchyard of Llanbeblig, Carnarvonshire, where the Society of Gwyneddigion, of which he was a founder, erected a monument to his memory. A portrait of him was engraved.
Hughes's 'Cywydd Molawd Mon,' and a couple of Englynion appeared with a brief biographical notice by the vicar of Llanllyfni, Carnarvonshire, in the 'Diddanwch Teuluaidd,' 1817 (pp. xxx, xxxi, 234, 236). In the `Brython,' iii. 376, appears his 'Cywydd Myfyrdod y Bardd am ei Gariad, pan oedd hi yn mordwyo o Fon i Fanaw; mewn cwch a elwid "Tarw,"' i.e. 'The bard's meditation on his sweetheart's setting sail from Anglesey to the Isle of Man in a boat called the Taurus.' This is dated 1763. There is a 'Cywydd y Byd' by him in Blackwell's 'Cylchgrawn,' i. 265, 1834, and a `Beddargraph' (epitaph) consisting of three Englynion in the 'Greal' (London, 1805), p. 72. Nine of his poems are published in 'Cyfres y Ceinion,' Liverpool, 1879. Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 14993 contains unpublished poems by Hughes dating from 1765 to 1780 in his own handwriting. The statement that there are poems by Hughes in the 'Dewisol Ganiadau' is erroneous.
[Information from the Rev. D. Silvan Evans and Professor Powel; Williams's Eminent Welshmen; Brit.Mus. Cat.]