1861 in Wales

← 1860 1859 1858 1861 in Wales → 1862 1863 1864
Centuries:	17th 18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1840s 1850s 1860s 1870s 1880s
See also:	List of years in Wales 1861 in The United Kingdom Ireland Scotland

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

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales – The Prince Albert Edward, 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

• The first 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

Sport

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

Births

• 1 January - John Owen Jones (Ap Ffarmwr), journalist (died 1899)
• 2 January (in Oswestry) – William Henry Griffith Thomas, clergyman and academic (died 1924)
• 22 March - Dick Kedzlie, Wales international rugby player (died 1920)
• 7 April - Clara Novello Davies, singer (died 1943)
• 5 May - John Edward Lloyd, historian (died 1947)
• 31 July at Garneddwen - Alfred William Hughes, surgeon and founder of the Welsh Hospital in South Africa
• 10 September - Sir John Lynn-Thomas, surgeon (died 1939)
• 19 September - Evan Roberts, Wales international rugby player (died 1927)
• 26 October - Richard Griffith (Carneddog), writer (died 1947)
• 28 December - David Gwynn, Wales international rugby player (died 1897)
• date unknown
  • Reginald Brooks-King, archer (died 1936)
  • William Stadden, rugby player (died 1906)
  • John Williams, politician (died 1922)

Deaths

• 6 February - Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet, 84
• 8 May - Thomas Lloyd-Mostyn, politician, 31
• 17 May - Ellis Owen Ellis, artist, 48?
• 2 August - Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea, statesman, 50
• 26 September - Morris Davies (Meurig Ebrill), poet, 71
• 25 October - Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet, former MP for Pembroke, 69