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Edward Williams spent his working life as a stonemason. It is as Iolo Morganwg that he is remembered, chiefly for his role in (re)creating modern bardic ritual and philosophy. He founded the first Gorsedd, Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain, at a ceremony in 1792 at Primrose Hill, London. He also authored fairly substantial works (most of which might uncharitably be considered forgeries) claiming that the druidic/ bardic tradition had survived intact in Wales despite the Roman conquest, Christianity, the persecution of the bards under Elizabeth TudorElizabeth I ( September 7, 1533 March 24, 1603) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from November 17, 1558 until her death. Sometimes referred to as The Virgin Queen or Good Queen Bess Elizabeth I was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty,, and other adversities. Iolo's philosophy represented a fusion of ChristianChristian is: a follower of the faith of Christianity a popular first name and surname, especially in Northern Europe According to the New Testament, those who followed Jesus as his disciples were first called Christians by those who did not share their f and Arthurian influences, a proto- romanticismRomanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in late 18th century Western Europe and stressed strong emotion, imagination, freedom from classical correctness in art forms, and rebellion against social conventions. It followed the comparable to that of William BlakeWilliam Blake ( November 28, 1757- August 12, 1827) was an English poet, mystic, painter and printmaker, or "Author & Printer," as he signed many of his books. Early career Blake was born at 28 Broad Street, Golden Square, London, England into a middle-cl, the revived antiquarianAn antiquarian is one concerned with antiquities or things of the past. More narrowly, the term is often used for those who studied (usually local) history with special attention to the physical traces of the past. Antiquarianism is usually considered to enthusiasm for all things CelticSince the Enlightenment, the term "Celtic" has been applied to a wide variety of peoples and cultural traits present and past. This article concerns those peoples who consider themselves, or have been considered by others, to be Celts in modern times ., and such elements of bardic heritage as had genuinely survived among Welsh-language poets.

Iolo was the author of the " Druid's Prayer ", which is still a staple in the ritual of both gorseddau and Neo-Druidism. His metaphysics outlined a theory of concentric 'rings of existence', proceeding outward from Annwn (the Otherworld) through Abred and Ceugant to Gwynfyd ( purity or Heaven).

Among his writings was Cyfrinach Beirdd Ynys Prydain, or "The Mystery of the Bards of the Isle of Britain".