1866 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1866 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

*Prince of Wales - Edward Albert, son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
*Princess of Wales - Alexandra of Denmark

Events

*September 6 - Six people are killed in a derailment near Criccieth.
*The last public execution in Wales takes place at Swansea. Robert Coe is hanged.
*Sir George Gilbert Scott begins work on the renovation of Bangor Cathedral.
*"Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" is adopted as the national anthem of Wales.
*The Pembroke and Tenby railway is extended to Whitland.
*Edward Gordon Douglas is created Baron Penrhyn.

Arts and literature

Awards

*National Eisteddfod of Wales is held at Chester.
**Harpist William Frost is awarded a pedal harp by Pencerdd Gwalia

New books

*Richard Davies (Mynyddog) - "Caneuon Mynyddog"
*Roger Edwards - "Y Tri Brawd"
*Rees Howell Gronow - "Last Recollections"
*William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog) - "Nodiadau ar yr Epistol at yr Hebreaid"

Music

*John Owen (Owain Alaw) - "Gŵyl Gwalia"
*John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia) - "The Bride of Neath Valley" (cantata)
*The Eryri music festival (Gwyl Gerddorol Eryri) is founded.

port

*Cricket - Hawarden Park Cricket Club is founded, reputedly by William Gladstone.

Births

*January 21 - Owen Cox, politician and businessman in Australia (died 1932)
*April 20 - Sir John Milsom Rees, laryngologist (died 1952)
*May 30 - John Gruffydd Moelwyn Hughes, poet and hymn-writer (died 1944)
*August 5 - Sir Edward Anwyl, Celtic scholar (died 1914)
*August 7 - Charles Granville Bruce, mountaineer (died 1939)
*October 4 - Robert Jones (Trebor Aled), poet (died 1917)
*October 12 - James Ramsay MacDonald, politician (died 1937)
*November 5 - Daniel Protheroe, conductor and choirmaster (died 1934)
*"date unknown" - David Delta Evans, minister and writer (d. 1948)

Deaths

*January 16 - David Owen (Brutus), literary editor, 70
*January 27 - John Gibson, sculptor, 75
*January 31 - Owen Owen Roberts, physician, 73
*October 16 - Angharad Llwyd, antiquary, 86
*October 27 - William Rowlands, minister and author active in the USA
*"date unknown" - Robert Jermain Thomas, missionary (murdered in Korea), 26