Edward Edwards

Edward Edwards (c. 1726 – 2 September 1783) was a Welsh scholar and clergyman. He was a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford for over thirty-five years, and was vice-principal for more than twenty years. His particular scholastic interest was in the works of the Greek philosopher Xenophon.

Life Edwards was the son of Lewis Edwards and was born in Talgarth in the parish of Tywyn, Merionethshire, in North Wales. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, where he matriculated in May 1743 – he was said to be 17 years old at that time. He was also awarded the higher degrees of Bachelor of Divinity (1756) and Doctor of Divinity (1760). He was rector of the parish of Besselsleigh, Oxfordshire from at least 1770.

Edwards and Samuel Johnson were friends and exchanged letters – Johnson described Edwards as "my convivial friend" and stayed with Edwards at Jesus College on a visit to Oxford in 1782. Edwards had an interest in matters connected with Wales, but his primary concern was Greek literature. He prepared an edition of Xenophon's Memorabilia, and published an essay on Socratic ethics in 1773 in the light of Xenophon's writings. His edition was printed with the Greek text and a Latin version before his death; the publication was completed by his friend Henry Owen in 1785.