Robert Thomas was born in Llanuwchllyn, Merionethshire in 1809 and was educated at home by his father, Dafydd Thomas. In 1826, he received the bequest of Dr Daniel Williams for poor children and became a blacksmith's apprentice. He moved to South Wales in 1829 and worked at Dowlais, Merthyr Tudful for a while before returning home. Finally, he received the calling from Dinas Mawddwy, Merionethshire and was ordained minister in 1840. He again moved - to Salem chapel, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool and then to Rhosllannerchrugog, Denbighshire. In 1855 he came to Bangor as the successor of Dr Arthur Jones, minister of the Congregational chapel, Ebenezer and was appointed Principal of the Bala College in 1873. He died in 1880.
Robert Thomas was also a bard and writer and won the chair at the National Eisteddfod twice, in 1864 and 1866. After 1864, he was known as Ap Vychan which was the pseudonym he had used at the Eisteddfod.
From the guide to the Ap Vychan Papers, 1841 - 1937, (Bangor University)
