1861 in Wales

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

[edit] Incumbents

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.

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

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

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)