1880s in Wales
| 1870s | 1890s | Other years in Wales |
| Other events of the decade |
This article is about the particular significance of the decade 1880–1889 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Events
Arts and literature
Awards
National Eisteddfod of Wales- 1880 – Caernarfon
- 1881 – Merthyr Tydfil
- *Chair – Evan Rees
- *Crown – Watkin Hezekiah Williams
- 1882 – Denbigh
- *Chair – withheld
- *Crown – Dafydd Rees Williams
- 1883 – Cardiff
- *Chair – withheld
- *Crown – Anna Walter Thomas
- 1884 – Liverpool
- *Chair – Evan Rees
- *Crown – Edward Foulkes
- 1885 – Aberdare
- *Chair – Watkin Hezekiah Williams
- *Crown – Griffith Tecwyn Parry
- 1886 – Caernarfon
- *Chair – Richard Davies
- *Crown – John Cadfan Davies
- 1887 – London
- *Chair – Robert Arthur Williams
- *Crown – John Cadfan Davies
- 1888 – Wrexham
- *Chair – Thomas Tudno Jones
- *Crown – Howell Elvet Lewis
- 1889 – Brecon
- *Chair – Evan Rees
- *Crown – Howell Elvet Lewis
New books
- Rhoda Broughton – Doctor Cupid
- Richard Davies (Mynyddog) – Pedwerydd Llyfr Mynyddog
- Amy Dillwyn
- *The Rebecca Rioter
- *Jill and Jack
- Daniel Silvan Evans – Dictionary of the Welsh Language
- Frances Hoggan – Education for Girls in Wales
- Daniel Owen
- *Y Dreflan
- *Rhys Lewis
- Robert Williams (Trebor Mai) – ''Gwaith Barddonol Trebor Mai''
Sport
- 1881 – Welsh Rugby Union is formed.
- 1884 – The Cardiff Arms Park hosts its first rugby international.
- 1889 – In a football match between Wales and Scotland at Wrexham, the referee allows the injured Welsh goalkeeper to be replaced – the first ever substitution in a soccer match.
Births
- 1880
- *30 April – George Maitland Lloyd Davies, pacifist
- *9 May – Thomas Scott-Ellis, 8th Baron Howard de Walden, patron of the arts
- *11 May – David Davies, 1st Baron Davies, politician
- *22 June – Rhys Gabe, rugby player
- *2 September – Isaac Daniel Hooson, poet
- *15 September – William Charles Williams, VC recipient
- *date unknown
- **Edward Tegla Davies, author
- **Harry Grindell Matthews, inventor
- 1881
- *3 January – Lewis Pugh Evans, VC recipient
- *14 February – William John Gruffydd, academic and politician
- *16 April – Ifor Williams, academic
- *5 May – Rupert Price Hallowes, VC recipient
- *16 June – David Grenfell, politician
- *20 June – John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute, landowner
- *August – John Lewis, footballer
- *30 September – Philip Lewis Griffiths, lawyer
- *28 October – Edward Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans, explorer
- *December – George Hall, politician
- *date unknown
- **David Thomas, composer
- **Robert Williams, trade union leader
- 1882
- *24 July – Reginald Clarry, politician
- *6 November – David Rees Griffiths, poet
- *16 December – Cyril Fox, archaeologist
- *date unknown – Ivor Lewis, artist
- 1883
- *30 April – David John de Lloyd, composer
- *28 May – Clough Williams-Ellis, architect
- *13 September – Percy Thomas, architect
- *date unknown
- **John Jones (Tydu), poet
- **James Walker, politician
- 1884
- *19 February – Clement Davies, politician
- *24 November – Jack Jones, novelist
- *date unknown
- **Arthur Jenkins, politician
- **Thomas Jones, footballer
- 1885
- *2 August – Clarence Bruce, 3rd Baron Aberdare
- *21 November – Robert Evans, footballer
- *date unknown
- **Ernest Evans, politician
- **David John Williams, writer and politician
- 1886
- *28 March – John Osborn Williams, entrepreneur
- *3 May – Morgan Jones, Welsh politician
- *29 September – Jack Williams, VC recipient
- 1887
- *13 January – Hedd Wyn, poet
- *27 February – James Dickson Innes, painter
- *date unknown
- **Huw Menai, poet
- 1888
- *21 May – William Cove, politician
- *16 August – T. E. Lawrence, writer and war hero
- *19 October – Peter Freeman, politician
- *5 September – Rhys Hopkin Morris, politician
- 1889
- *1 February – John Lewis, philosopher
- *11 December – Cedric Morris, artist