Robert Isaac Jones

Robert Isaac Jones (1813 – 7 March 1905), also known under his bardic name Alltud Eifion, was a Welsh pharmacist, writer, and printer.

Biography

Jones was born at Tyddyn Iolyn, Pentrefelin (near Porthmadog) in 1813. Here he was educated and, in 1831, moved to become an apprentice to a Pwllheli pharmacist. After this he moved to Caernarvon and London, before settling in Tremadoc.

In 1838, Jones opened his Tremadoc pharmacist, the Cambrian Pill Depôt. He gained some fame as the peddler of "Tremadoc Pills", which he claimed as an effective medicine for many different illnesses.

Jones was also an active eisteddfodwr, an attendee of annual Welsh literary festivals, though he "did not excel", despite the copious amounts of poetry he produced, according to the Dictionary of Welsh Biography.

Personal life and death Jones was initially a Methodist, but left the church for the local Anglican church. He contributed to several religious journals - Yr Haul, Y Llan, and Cymru - and briefly refounded a pre-existing church periodical, Baner y Groes. Jones founded a Sunday school in the Tremadoc town hall.

Jones died on 7 March 1905, and was buried in St Cynhaearn's Church, Ynyscynhaearn.

Publications Gwaith Barddonol Sion Wyn o Eifion (1861) (ed.) Cyff Beuno by Eben Fardd (1863) (ed.) Cell Meudwy by Ellis Owen (1877) John Ystumllyn (1888) Yr Emynydd Cristionogol (1889) Y Gestiana, sef, Hanes Tre'r Gest (1892)