John Davies, FLSW (25 April 1938 – 16 February 2015) was a Welsh historian, and a television and radio broadcaster.

The decision by Penguin to commission the volume in Welsh was "unexpected and highly commendable," wrote Davies.

Davies took a sabbatical from his post at the University College of Wales and wrote most of the chapters while touring Europe.

[4] Hanes Cymru was translated into English and published in 1993, as there was "a demand among English-speakers to read what was already available to Welsh-speakers," wrote Davies.

In 2005, Davies received the Glyndŵr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales during the Machynlleth Festival.