1861 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1861 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
- Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey – Henry Paget, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey
- Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire – John Lloyd Vaughan Watkins
- Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire – Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley, 10th Baronet
- Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire – Edward Pryse
- Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire – John Campbell, 2nd Earl Cawdor
- Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire – Robert Myddelton Biddulph
- Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire – Sir Stephen Glynne, 9th Baronet
- Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan – Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot
- Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire – Robert Davies Pryce
- Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire – Capel Hanbury Leigh ;Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover
- Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire – Thomas Hanbury-Tracy, 2nd Baron Sudeley
- Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet ; William Edwardes, 3rd Baron Kensington
- Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – John Walsh, 1st Baron Ormathwaite
- Bishop of Bangor – James Colquhoun Campbell
- Bishop of Llandaff – Alfred Ollivant
- Bishop of St Asaph – Thomas Vowler Short
- Bishop of St Davids – Connop Thirlwall
Events
- 30 May - 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.
- 10 June - The Oswestry and Newtown Railway is completed throughout by opening of the section between Abermule and Newtown, giving through rail communication from England to Llanidloes.
- July - Baner ac Amserau Cymru begins twice-weekly publication.
- date unknown
- *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.
- *John Dillwyn-Llewelyn marries Caroline, daughter of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, 8th Baronet.
- *Griffith John becomes the first Christian missionary to penetrate into central China.
Arts and literature
Awards
- 20-22 August - 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
- 2 January - William Henry Griffith Thomas, clergyman and academic
- 28 February - Jessie Penn-Lewis, evangelist
- 22 March - Dick Kedzlie, Wales international rugby player
- 7 April - Clara Novello Davies, singer
- 5 May - John Edward Lloyd, historian
- 31 July at Garneddwen - Alfred W. Hughes, surgeon and founder of the Welsh Hospital in South Africa
- 27 August - Reginald Brooks-King, archer
- 10 September - Sir John Lynn-Thomas, surgeon
- 19 September - Evan Roberts, Wales international rugby player
- 26 October - Richard Griffith (Carneddog), writer
- 28 December - David Gwynn, Wales international rugby player
- date unknown
- *William Stadden, rugby player
- *John Williams, politician
Deaths
- 6 February - Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet, 84
- 20 April - David Pugh, merchant, landowner and politician,
- 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
- 5 September - William Addams Williams, lawyer, landowner and politician, 74
- 26 September - Morris Davies, poet, 71
- 25 October - Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet, former MP for Pembroke, 69