Education
Powell matriculated at Jesus College in 1581, obtaining his Bachelor in 1584, Master of Arts in 1589, and Bachelor of Civil Law in 1593.
Powell matriculated at Jesus College in 1581, obtaining his Bachelor in 1584, Master of Arts in 1589, and Bachelor of Civil Law in 1593.
Powell was the third of four sons of John ap Hywel of Llansawel, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He was elected Fellow of the college in 1589. He effectively ran the college during the principalships of his two predecessors, Francis Bevans and John Williams.
Williams deprived him of his Fellowship, but it was restored on the Chancellor"s orders.
Powell wrote two volumes on Aristotelian philosophy, Analysis analyticorum posteriorum (1594) and De sophisticis elenchis (1598). He was awarded his Data Control Language in 1599.
The hall still retains the panelling, three tables and two benches from the time of this work. His careful approach to college finances also made it possible to increase the numbers of resident fellows and scholars, and the popularity of the college with students from South Wales in particular increased during his time as Principal.
He died in 1620 and was buried in the Church of Street Michael at the Northgate near the College.
He left his whole estate to the college. Lands in Flintshire were bought with the proceeds, and these remained in college ownership until 1966. The college chapel was completed within a year of his death.