Bassett was born in
Aberthaw,
Glamorgan,
Wales to Christopher and Alice Bassett, both followers of
Howell Harris (one of the leaders of the
Welsh Methodist revival). After studying at
Cowbridge Grammar School, Bassett went to
Jesus College, Oxford,
matriculating in 1768. He obtained a
B.A. degree in 1772, adding a
M.A. degree in 1775. He was ordained by
Richard Terrick, the
Bishop of London, and was a
curate under
William Romaine at
St Ann Blackfriars in London. However, health problems caused him to return to Wales, where he became successively curate at
St. Fagans and
Porthkerry in
Glamorgan, establishing Methodist societies in both places, and preaching to Methodists throughout
South Wales. He travelled to his sister's house in
Bristol in 1783 when his health worsened, and he died there of
tuberculosis on 8 February 1784. He was buried at
St Athan, Glamorgan. Tributes were paid to him by
William Williams, Pantycelyn and others, and
David Jones of Llangan, wrote a short biography titled '
Llythyr oddiwrth Dafydd ab Ioan y Pererin at Ioan ab Gwilim y Prydydd..., published at
Trevecka in 1784. ==References==