Richard Morris (folklorist)

Richard Morris (2 February 1703 – December 1779) was a Welsh folklorist, a younger brother of Lewis Morris.

Life

Morris was born in Anglesey, one of four notable brothers whose surviving correspondence is a valuable record of the time. He went to work in London as a clerk in the navy office, where he ultimately became chief clerk of foreign accounts.

After a long term of service he was superannuated, and died in the Tower in 1779.

Work

The chief service he rendered to Wales was his careful supervision of the editions of the Welsh Bible printed in 1746 and 1752. These were issued by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, in answer to the appeal of Griffith Jones of Llanddowror, Carmarthenshire, for a supply of bibles for his travelling free schools. Rhisiart Morys not only supervised the orthography, but added tables of Jewish weights and measures. He also issued an illustrated translation into Welsh of the Book of Common Prayer. He was a leading figure among London Welshmen, and on the establishment of the original Cymmrodorion Society in September 1751 became its president.

Among other Welshmen of talent whom his position enabled him to befriend, Goronwy Owen received much assistance from him, being employed to translate the rules of the society into Welsh.