The son of the Review Edward Parry and Anne, his wife, he was born 6 April 1786. His father was at the time rector of Llangar, but held the living with the curacy of Mold, Flintshire, where he lived and kept school. He did not move on becoming in 1790 rector of the neighbouring parish of Llanferres.
Parry was educated at Ruthin grammar school, and then entered the office of his uncle, Mr. Wynne, a solicitor at Moldavia
Inheriting some property on the death of his father, Parry was in 1807 admitted to the Temple, and in 1811 was called to the Barometer He practised for a time in the Oxford circuit and the Chester great sessions, but became a writer In September 1819 he started the Cambro-Briton, a magazine on Welsh history.
Three volumes appeared (London, 1820, 1821, 1822).
He took part in the re-establishment of the Cymmrodorion Society in 1820, and edited the first volume of the society"s Transactions (London, 1822). On 12 February 1825 he was attacked and killed in North Street, Pentonville, by a bricklayer named Bennett, with whom he had quarrelled in the Prince of Wales tavern.
After Parry"s violent death, a fund of over £1,000 was subscribed.
