FARDD, EBEN

born August 1802, Llanarmon, Caernarvonshire, Wales died Feb. 17, 1863 original name Ebenezer Thomas Welsh-language poet, the last of the 19th-century bards to contribute works of genuine poetic distinction to the eisteddfods (poetic competitions). Fardd's best-known poems include Dinystr Jerusalem (Destruction of Jerusalem), an ode that won the prize at the Welshpool eisteddfod (1824); Job, which won at Liverpool (1840); and Maes Bosworth (Bosworth Field), which won at Llangollen (1858). In addition to his eisteddfodic compositions, he wrote many hymns, a collection of which was published in 1862. His complete works appeared under the title Gweithiau Barddonol Eben Fardd (1875; Poetic Works of Eben Fardd). From 1827 he conducted a school at Clynnog, Caernarvonshire.