1900 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1900 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

Events

6 January – In Merionethshire, for the first time in centuries, the sword of the Gorsedd bards is solemnly unsheathed. "The chief bard invoked the blessing of God on British arms in South Africa, and announced that the sword would not be sheathed again till the triumph of the forces of righteousness over the hordes of evil."
3 January – Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert almost capsizes while being floated out of dry dock at Pembroke Dock on completion of her construction.
4 April – An anarchist shoots at Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, during his visit to Belgium for the birthday celebrations of the King of Belgium.
14 May – A pedestrian tunnel is opened under the River Ely from Cardiff to Penarth Dock.
June – The Royal Welch Fusiliers form the largest contingent in the multinational coalition forces helping to relieve the siege of Peking during the Boxer Rebellion.
1 June – Colwyn Bay Pier opened.
9 July – The Dowlais Iron Company and Arthur Keen's Patent Nut and Bolt Company merged to form Guest, Keen & Co. Ltd.
August – Taff Vale Railway strike.
16 September – The German steamship, Stormarn, and the Gordon Castle collide in fog in Cardigan Bay with the loss of 20 lives.
26 September - 24 October – United Kingdom general election, in which:
* Keir Hardie is elected for Merthyr Tydfil, one of the first Labour MPs in Britain;
* Frederick Rutherfoord Harris becomes Conservative MP for Monmouth Boroughs;
* Francis Edwards regains Radnorshire for the Liberals;
* George Newnes becomes MP for Swansea Town;
* Edward James Reed regains Cardiff;
* Sir Henry Morton Stanley retires from Parliament.
7 November – The steamer City of Vienna sinks off Swansea with the loss of 20 crew members. There is one survivor.
22 November – Beginning of the long-running Penrhyn Quarry industrial dispute.
28 December – The barque Primrose Hill is wrecked on South Stack off Holyhead, with the loss of 33 lives.
The 'Long Bridge' at Risca, formerly part of the Monmouthshire Canal, is demolished.
The Aberdare Canal is closed as economically unviable.
A small zoo in Victoria Park, Cardiff, opens.
The United States census figures show a Welsh immigrant population totalling 93,744, plus 173,416 children — an all-time high.

Arts and literature

Awards

National Eisteddfod of Wales – held in Liverpool
* Chair – John Owen Williams, "Y Bugail"
* Crown – John Thomas Job, "Williams Pantycelyn"

New books

Owen Morgan Edwards – Tro yn Llydaw
David Brynmor Jones and John Rhys – The Welsh People
Allen Raine – Garthowen
Ernest Rhys – The Whistling Maid
R. Silyn Roberts and W. J. Gruffydd – Telynegion
Bertrand Russell – ''A Critical Exposition of the Philosophy of Leibniz''

Music

Sir Walford Davies – ''Four Songs of Innocence''

Sport

24 February – Association football – Wales lose 2–0 to Ireland in Llandudno.
Rugby union – Wales win the Triple Crown.
Yachting – Cardiff Yacht Club is formed in Butetown.

Births

18 January – Idris Jones Wales rugby union international
23 January – William Ifor Jones, conductor
9 February – David Williams, historian
19 April – Richard Hughes, novelist
2 June – David Wynne, composer
30 June – Idwal Jones, politician
27 August – Frank Moody, British boxing champion
2 September – Bobby Delahay, Wales rugby union captain
1 November – Eiluned Lewis, writer
12 November – Thomas Hollingdale, Wales rugby union international
28 November – Trevor Roberts, 2nd Baron Clwyd, lawyer date unknown – Horace Williams, footballer

Deaths

20 January – R. D. Blackmore, English novelist of Anglo-Welsh parentage, 74
22 January – David E. Hughes, musician and professor of music, 68
26 February – Daniel Grey, doctor and footballer, 51
22 March – Thomas Charles Edwards, Presbyterian leader, 62
10 May – Philip Ellis, Tractarian, 77
14 June – Catherine Gladstone, wife of British Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, 88
19 September – Anne Beale, novelist, 84
9 October – John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, owner of Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch, 53
12 December – William Williams, veterinary surgeon, 68