Robert Bryan (1858-1920) was born at Llanarmon-yn-Iâl (between Ruthin and Wrexham but nearer to Ruthin). He studied at Bangor, Aberystwyth and Oxford, and lived near Wrexham, moving to Caernarfon where ran a retail business in Egypt, active in Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said and Khartoum. Bryan spent winters there, returning to Caernarfon each summer, and he also taught at Rhostryfan for a while. He died in Cairo and was buried there.