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Description
Poet Ben Bowen (1878-1903) was a native of Treorchy, born at 126 High Street. He started working in the local colliery when he was twelve years old, by which time he was said to be a competent englynwr. Five years later he became the youngest poet to win the chair at the Eisteddfod, held in Penrhiw-ceibr. Bowen then studied in the Academy at Pontypridd, followed by University College, Cardiff, where he mastered the classical languages and German. After a period of ill health, he went in 1901 to South Africa to recuperate, paid for by a publicly raised fund. Bowen published several controversial theological articles on his return, leading to his expulsion from his chapel, Moriah, Pentre. His health then deteriorated rapidly and he died before fulfilling his early promise as a poet. Information taken from Meic Stephens' New Companion to the Literature of Wales (University of Wales Press, 1998)
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