author
Benjamin Franklin Bowen
A 19th-century clergyman and writer, he is best remembered for a bold historical study arguing that Welsh explorers reached America long before Columbus. His work reflects the era’s fascination with legend, language, and national origins.
1 Audiobook
America Discovered by the Welsh in 1170 A.D.
by Benjamin Franklin Bowen
About the author
Benjamin Franklin Bowen, often listed as Rev. Benjamin F. Bowen, was a 19th-century author known for America Discovered by the Welsh in 1170 A.D., published in 1876. The book presents the old tradition that Prince Madoc and Welsh voyagers reached North America centuries before Columbus, and Bowen builds his case through historical anecdotes, language comparisons, and patriotic argument.
What makes Bowen interesting to modern readers is not just the claim itself, but the way he writes: with the confidence of a preacher, the curiosity of an antiquarian, and the enthusiasm of someone determined to defend a forgotten story. His book offers a vivid glimpse into how earlier writers mixed scholarship, folklore, and debate when exploring the past.
Some surviving records identify him as a minister, but clear biographical details about his life are limited in the sources I could confirm. Because of that, he is best approached through the work he left behind, which remains the main reason readers still encounter his name today.