John Jones
Science > Astronomer

John Jones is famous for being an Astronomer and Linguist.

John Jones
  • 1848: He started life as a farm labourer and worked as a slate loader at Penrhyn Port.
  • John studied his favourite subjects throughout his life.
  • John was an excellent astronomer and he built two telescopes for himself.
  • The children of Bangor called him John Jones the Stars.
  • He learnt languages and had 26 dictionaries. He read the Bible in Welsh, English, Greek and Hebrew simultaneously at his breakfast table.
  • He was also interested in music, and he was a poet.
  • The English author, Samuel Smiles, visited him and wrote about his life.

Place of Birth: Dwyran, Anglesey

Date of Birth: 1818

Date of Death: 1898

‘John was one of those contented men who lived two lives. At work he was an ordinary slate counter. After work, he was a linguist, astronomer, and poet.’ – Arthur Mee, ‘Young Wales: A Monthly Magazine’ (1889), p. 272

External Links

Wikipedia - John Jones

Dictionary of Welsh Biography - John Jones