Background
He was born at Bryngwyn Bach, Dwyran, Anglesey, and received only an elementary education.
He was born at Bryngwyn Bach, Dwyran, Anglesey, and received only an elementary education.
From the age of twelve, he worked as a farm labourer. He later worked as a counter of cargoes of slate as they were loaded on to ships in Bangor, Arfon. Unusually for someone of his background, he was not only a musician and a poet but proficient in several languages.
He is noted mainly for his interest in astronomy: he constructed his own telescopes – including "Jumbo", reputed to be the first silver-on-glass reflecting telescope in Wales.
He died at Bangor in 1898. Jones was praised by Samuel Smiles in his 1884 book Men of Invention and Industry.
In 2004, he was voted Number. 94 in a poll of 100 Welsh Heroes organised by the British Broadcasting Corporation. A plaque in his honour has been erected by Ynys Môn County Council at Brynsiencyn.