Lewis Morris was the eldest son of Morris ap Rhisiart Morris, a farmer, of Llanfihangel-Tre'r-Beirdd in Anglesey.
His bardic name was Llewelyn Ddu o Fôn ("Black Llewelyn [Lewis] of Anglesey"). The correspondence between him and his younger brothers is a valuable historical source. In 1751, he founded the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion along with his brother Richard.
Morris' survey of the Welsh coast was published in 1748
Although there is no record of his having had any further education, Lewis Morris began his career as an estate-surveyor, and was employed by the Meyrick family of Bodorgan. He worked as a Customs official from 1729, and was later involved in the Cardiganshire mining industry. However, he is perhaps best known for his hydrographic surveys of the Welsh Coast.
The idea for the survey probably arose while he was working as a Customs official in Holyhead, where he would have come into contact with many seafarers. At this time there were no accurate and up-to-date hydrographic charts of the Welsh coast and many ships and people died as a result.
Morris put his idea for a survey to the Admiralty, but they showed little interest and he was obliged to undertake the work at his own expense. The result of his efforts was the publication of Plans of harbours, bars, bays, and roads in St. George's-Channel in 1748.
While this work had a major impact on the safety of shipping around the Welsh coast at the time; Morris's contribution to British cartography was for many years eclipsed by his other achievements.
Later careeredit
In his spare time, Morris began prospecting for lead, and during the 1750s he was in constant dispute with his employers and was prosecuted and lost his job as collector of tolls at Aberdyfi. He visited London several times in order to contest court cases relating to his industrial activities; whilst there, he assisted his brother Richard in setting up the Cymmrodorion Society. However, Lewis's long-term project, the publication of a dictionary, was never completed.
He died on 11 April 1765 and is buried in Llangunnor Churchyard in Wales.
Worksedit
Plans of Harbours, Bays, and Roads in St. George's and the Bristol Channels (1748)
Tlysau yr Hen Oesoedd (1753)
Short History of the Manor of Creuthyn (1756)
Celtic Remains (1757; not published until 1878)
Sourcesedit
Welsh Biography Online
External linksedit
National Library of Wales - Lewis Morris and William Morris' Sea Charts
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry under "Morris, Lewis". Retrieved 27 February 2010. Subscription required.
December 15, 2023
lewis, morris, 1701, 1765, other, people, with, same, name, lewis, morris, lewis, morris, march, 1701, april, 1765, welsh, hydrographer, antiquary, poet, lexicographer, eldest, morris, brothers, anglesey, lewis, morrislewis, morris, eldest, morris, rhisiart, m. For other people with the same name see Lewis Morris Lewis Morris 2 March 1701 11 April 1765 was a Welsh hydrographer antiquary poet and lexicographer the eldest of the Morris brothers of Anglesey Lewis MorrisLewis Morris was the eldest son of Morris ap Rhisiart Morris a farmer of Llanfihangel Tre r Beirdd in Anglesey His bardic name was Llewelyn Ddu o Fon Black Llewelyn Lewis of Anglesey The correspondence between him and his younger brothers is a valuable historical source In 1751 he founded the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion along with his brother Richard Contents 1 Career as a cartographer 2 Later career 3 Works 4 Sources 5 External linksCareer as a cartographer edit nbsp Morris survey of the Welsh coast was published in 1748Although there is no record of his having had any further education Lewis Morris began his career as an estate surveyor and was employed by the Meyrick family of Bodorgan He worked as a Customs official from 1729 and was later involved in the Cardiganshire mining industry However he is perhaps best known for his hydrographic surveys of the Welsh Coast The idea for the survey probably arose while he was working as a Customs official in Holyhead where he would have come into contact with many seafarers At this time there were no accurate and up to date hydrographic charts of the Welsh coast and many ships and people died as a result Morris put his idea for a survey to the Admiralty but they showed little interest and he was obliged to undertake the work at his own expense The result of his efforts was the publication of Plans of harbours bars bays and roads in St George s Channel in 1748 While this work had a major impact on the safety of shipping around the Welsh coast at the time Morris s contribution to British cartography was for many years eclipsed by his other achievements Later career editIn his spare time Morris began prospecting for lead and during the 1750s he was in constant dispute with his employers and was prosecuted and lost his job as collector of tolls at Aberdyfi He visited London several times in order to contest court cases relating to his industrial activities whilst there he assisted his brother Richard in setting up the Cymmrodorion Society However Lewis s long term project the publication of a dictionary was never completed He died on 11 April 1765 and is buried in Llangunnor Churchyard in Wales Works editPlans of Harbours Bays and Roads in St George s and the Bristol Channels 1748 Tlysau yr Hen Oesoedd 1753 Short History of the Manor of Creuthyn 1756 Celtic Remains 1757 not published until 1878 Sources editWelsh Biography OnlineExternal links editNational Library of Wales Lewis Morris and William Morris Sea Charts Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry under Morris Lewis Retrieved 27 February 2010 Subscription required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lewis Morris 1701 1765 amp oldid 1179615029, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
