1906 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1906 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

Events

13 February - In the United Kingdom general election:
*For the first time ever, no Conservative MP is elected in Wales.
*William Brace becomes Labour MP for South Glamorganshire.
*David Davies becomes Liberal MP for Montgomeryshire.
*Ivor Guest becomes Liberal MP for Cardiff District.
*Alfred Mond becomes Liberal MP for Chester.
*John David Rees becomes Liberal MP for Montgomery District.
*Ivor Treowen becomes MP for South Monmouthshire.
*John Williams becomes MP for Gower District.
5 June - At the Eifion by-election, brought about by the resignation of John Bryn Roberts, Liberal candidate Ellis Davies is elected unopposed.
27 June - One of the strongest earthquakes recorded in the UK strikes Swansea with a strength of 5.2 on the Richter Scale, damaging several buildings.
August - Evan Roberts suffers a breakdown, signalling the end of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival.
14 August - The East Denbighshire by-election, brought about by the resignation of Samuel Moss, is won by the Liberal candidate Edward Hemmerde.
30 August - Official opening of Fishguard Harbour.
12 September - Opening of Newport Transporter Bridge.
October
*The new City Hall, Cardiff, and Law Courts are opened in Cathays Park.
*Opening of the first purpose-built sanatorium in Wales, at Allt-yr-yn, Newport.
*A by-election is held in Mid Glamorganshire as a result of the appointment of its MP, Samuel Evans, as Recorder of Swansea; he is required to seek re-election and in the by-election he is returned unopposed.
date unknown
*David Brynmor Jones is knighted.
*Hydro-electricity is generated for the first time in Wales, at Cwm Dyli in Gwynedd.
*Anglican Benedictine monks arrive at Caldey Island to found a community.
*The South Wales Miners' Federation affiliates to the Labour Party.

Arts and literature

Ernest Rhys becomes editor of Everyman's Library.

Awards

National Eisteddfod of Wales - held in Caernarfon
*Chair - John James Williams (J. J.), "Y Lloer"
*Crown - Hugh Emyr Davies

New books

English language

Arthur Machen – The House of Souls
W. J. Parry – The Cry of the People
Allen Raine – Queen of the Rushes
Edward Thomas - ''The Heart of England''

Welsh language

Owen Morgan Edwards - Clych Adgof
Sarah Winifred Parry – Sioned: darluniau o fywyd gwledig yng Nghymru
Eliseus Williams (Eifion Wyn) - ''Telynegion Maes a Mor''

Music

The Welsh Folk Song Society is co-founded by soprano Mary Davies.
David Vaughan Thomas - ''The Knight's Burial''

Theatre

10 December - The New Theatre, Cardiff, opens to the public, with a performance of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Sport

Boxing
*23 May - Tom Thomas wins the British middleweight title.
Rugby union
*Wales finish second in the 1906 Home Nations Championship, beating England and Scotland, but losing to Ireland.
*1 December - Wales lose 11–0 to South Africa in the first encounter between the two countries.
Tennis - For the first and only time, a Davis Cup final is played in Wales. The United States defeat Australia at Newport.

Births

10 January - Tom Arthur, Wales international rugby player
16 January - Watcyn Thomas, rugby player
19 February - Grace Williams, composer
4 March - Tommy Jones-Davies, Wales international rugby player
15 March - Bill Everson, Wales international rugby player
4 April - John Roberts Wales international rugby player
24 April - Leslie Thomas, politician
25 June - Roger Livesey, actor
27 June - Vernon Watkins, poet
12 July - Archie Skym, international rugby union player
15 July - Herbert Edmund-Davies, Baron Edmund-Davies, judge
16 October - Maudie Edwards, actress
18 November - Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl, politician
8 December - Richard Llewellyn, novelist

Deaths

6 January
* Joseph Bailey, 1st Baron Glanusk, retired Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire, 65
* Emrys ap Iwan, writer, 54
25 March - Gwilym Williams, judge, 66
4 June - John William Evans, politician, 36
24 June - Henry Dennis, industrialist, 80
24 July - John Edwards (Meiriadog), poet, 93
27 August - James Charles, painter, 55
4 September - William Bowen Rowlands, politician
16 September - Robert Llugwy Owen, minister and writer, 69
22 September - Griffith Arthur Jones, Anglican priest, 78
21 October - Griffith Jones (Glan Menai), writer, 70
25 November - William W. Davies, Mormon leader, 73
29 November - Mary Dillwyn Welby, photographer, 90
30 November - Sir Edward James Reed, politician, 76
30 December - William Stadden, Wales international rugby player, 45