1879 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1879 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

13 January – In a mining accident at Dinas Colliery, Llantrisant in the Rhondda, 63 men are killed.
22–23 January – Rorke's Drift is successfully defended by 139 British soldiers from the South Wales Borderers against an assault by 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors.
2 May – Eleven Victoria Crosses are awarded to soldiers active in the defence of Rorke's Drift, the recipients including Privates John Williams and Robert Jones.
1 September – The ballroom of the Lord Nelson Hotel in Milford Haven becomes the first in the UK to be lit by electricity.
22 September – In a mining accident at Waunllwyd, Ebbw Vale, 84 men are killed.
3 October – Pryce Pryce-Jones opens his Royal Welsh Warehouse at Newtown, Montgomeryshire.
17 October – Official opening of the Severn Railway Bridge in Gloucestershire.
29 November – Stradey Park opens as the home of Llanelli RFC. It remains the home for Llanelli RFC for nearly 130 years, and later for the regional side Scarlets, but closes in November 2008 when the teams' new home, Parc y Scarlets, opens in nearby Pemberton.
date unknown
*Railway engine drivers and firemen from Griffithstown form a craft union which becomes the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen.
*The Croesor Tramway becomes the Portmadoc, Croesor and Beddgelert Tram Railway.
*Butter Market in Wrexham opens.
*Welsh draper D H Evans opens his shop in London's Oxford Street.

Football
*18 January – Wales play England for the first time, at Kennington Oval. Wales lose 2–1, but see their first international goal, scored by William Davies.
*Newtown win the Welsh Cup in the second year of its existence.
Rugby union
*18 January – Treherbert RFC play Cardiff for the first time.
*Brecon RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC are founded.
Tennis – The first tennis club in Wales is formed by the Newport Athletic Club.

22 January – John Vivian, MP, English-born member of the Vivian family, 60
20 February – John Orlando Parry, actor, pianist, artist, comedian and singer, 69
5 March – John Davies of Nercwys, minister and writer, 79
28 March – Robert Jones, Anglican priest and writer, 69
10 May – Robert Thompson Crawshay, ironmaster, 62
14 May – Thomas Nicholas, antiquary, 63
13 August – Edward Edwards, zoologist, 75
25 August – John Evans, Welsh-born Canadian politician, 63
23 September – Francis Kilvert, diarist, 39
11 December – William Thomas (Gwilym Marles), minister and writer, uncle of Dylan Thomas, 45