Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jones, John (1810-1869)
JONES, JOHN, or, according to his bardic name, Talhaiarn (1810–1869), Welsh poet, was born at the Harp inn, which was kept by his parents, in the village of Llanfairtalhaiarn, near Abergele, in 1810. He was brought up as an architect, and acted as general manager to Sir Joseph Paxton [q. v.], in which capacity he was for some time employed in the erection of one of the mansions of the Rothschild family near Paris. It was in this way that he acquired his knowledge of the French language, which he both wrote and spoke with perfect ease. During the latter years of his life he suffered a great deal from gout and an internal disease. In 1869, finding that his ailments were incurable, he made an attempt upon his life, from the effects of which he died on 13 Oct. 1869. He was buried in the churchyard of his native village, where a monument has been erected to his memory.
Talhaiarn enjoyed a considerable reputation among his countrymen as a president at their eisteddfodau, but he became most celebrated as a writer of Welsh words to the old Welsh airs. The latter are now more often sung with Talhaiarn's words than with those of any other writer. His lighter lyrical pieces are vigorous and racy, and deserve their popularity. But he took great liberties with the Welsh language, both by the copious introduction of English words and by the use of English syntax. The old Welsh metres he entirely threw aside, and his poetry by such a license was perhaps considerably the gainer. His English poems are cumbrous in diction and commonplace in thought.
Talhaiarn published three volumes of poetry: the first appeared in 1855, and contains some of his most popular songs and some translations, among others his imitation of Burns's ‘Tam o' Shanter,’ under the title, ‘Sôn am Ysprydion;’ to these some English poems are appended. In 1862 appeared the second volume, which includes all his remaining songs which attained any popularity; among others, ‘Mae Robin yn' Swil’ (Shy Robin), at one time well known throughout the principality. Some of the more ambitious pieces in this volume, e.g. ‘Tal ar Ben Bodran,’ and also those composed in English, cannot be considered successful. In the last year of his life another and smaller volume was published, but it shows failing powers and contains little which invites attention.
[Autobiographical notices in his works; personal knowledge.]