1861 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1861 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

*Prince of Wales - Edward Albert, son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
*Princess of Wales - "vacant"

Events

*June - In a by-election caused by the death of the sitting MP, Richard Grosvenor becomes MP for Flintshire, holding it on behalf of the Liberals.
*July - "Baner ac Amserau Cymru" begins twice-weekly publication.
*Japanese knotweed is recorded at Maesteg - the first record of it growing wild in the UK.
*Excavation of Long Hole Cave in Glamorgan reveals prehistoric flint artefacts.
*Pryce Pryce-Jones starts his mail order company in Newtown, Montgomeryshire.
*David Davies Llandinam builds the Oswestry and Newtown railway.
*John Dillwyn-Llewelyn marries Caroline Hicks Beach.
*Griffith John becomes the first Christian missionary to penetrate into central China.

Arts and literature

Awards

*National Eisteddfod of Wales is held at Aberdare. The chair is won by Lewis William Lewis.

New books

*"Autobiography and Correspondence of Mrs. Delaney", ed. Augusta Hall, Lady Llanover
*Griffith Jones (Glan Menai) - "Hywel Wyn"
*John Jones (Vulcan) - "Athrawiaeth yr Iawn"
*David Owen (Brutus) - "Cofiant y Diweddar Barch. Thomas Williams"
*Thomas Rees - "History of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales: From Its Rise to the Present Time"
*William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog) - "Emmanuel"
*Jane Williams (Ysgafell) - "The Literary Women of England"
*Robert Williams (Trebor Mai) - "Fy Noswyl"

Music

*Hugh Jerman - "Deus Misereatur"

port

*Cricket
**July 18 - South Wales Cricket Club defeat MCC at Lord's.

Births

*January 1 - John Owen Jones (Ap Ffarmwr), journalist (died 1899)
*April 7 - Clara Novello Davies, singer (died 1943)
*May 5 - John Edward Lloyd, historian (died 1947)
*July 31 - Alfred William Hughes, surgeon and founder of the Welsh Hospital in South Africa
*September 10 - Sir John Lynn-Thomas, surgeon (died 1939)
*October 26 - Richard Griffith (Carneddog), writer (died 1947)
*"date unknown"
**William Henry Griffith Thomas, clergyman and academic (died 1924)
**John Williams, politician (died 1922)

Deaths

*May 8 - Thomas Lloyd-Mostyn, politician, 31
*May 17 - Ellis Owen Ellis, artist, 48?
*September 26 - Morris Davies (Meurig Ebrill), poet, 71