1863 in Wales
Encyclopedia
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1863 to Wales
and its people
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and its people
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
.
Incumbents
- Prince of WalesPrince of WalesPrince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
— The Prince Albert EdwardEdward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. - Princess of WalesPrincess of WalesPrincess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
— Alexandra of DenmarkAlexandra of DenmarkAlexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
Events
- 10 March — Marriage of Edward Albert, Prince of Wales, to Alexandra of Denmark. Alexandra becomes the first Princess of Wales since 1820.
- 23 October — Festiniog Railway introduces steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s into general service, the first time this has been done anywhere in the world on a public railway of such a narrow gauge (2 ft (60 cm)). - Founding of the Anglesey Central RailwayAnglesey Central RailwayThe Anglesey Central Railway was a long standard-gauge railway in Anglesey, Wales, connecting the port of Amlwch and the county town of Llangefni with the North Wales Coast Line at Gaerwen. Built as an independent railway, the railway opened in portions from 1864 to 1867...
. - English church services are introduced for English-speaking minorities in Welsh-speaking areas.
- Sir Hugh Owen becomes an honorary secretary of the London committee formed to set up the University of WalesUniversity of WalesThe University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
. - Mesac ThomasMesac ThomasMesac Thomas was an Anglican bishop in Australia.Thomas was born to Welsh parents: his father was a John Thomas of Shrewsbury. He was educated at Shrewsbury and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1840 and M.A. in 1843...
becomes the first Bishop of Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. - Publication of The Bards of WalesThe Bards of WalesThe Bards of Wales is a ballad by Hungarian poet János Arany, written in 1857. Alongside the Toldi trilogy it is one of his most important works....
, first written in 1857 by Hungarian poet János AranyJános AranyJános Arany , was a Hungarian journalist, writer, poet, and translator. He is often said to be the "Shakespeare of ballads" – he wrote more than 40 ballads which have been translated into over 50 languages, as well as the Toldi trilogy, to mention his most famous works.-Biography:He was born in...
, using the story of Edward I's conquest of Wales to disguise criticism of the Austro-Hungarian empire. - Machynlleth born John EvansJohn Evans (British Columbia politician)John Evans was a miner and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Cariboo in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1875 to 1879....
arrives in British Columbia, Canada, with a group of other Welsh miners. He subsequently becomes a major political figure in the province.
New books
- John Ceiriog HughesJohn Ceiriog HughesJohn Ceiriog Hughes , was a Welsh poet and well-known collector of Welsh folk tunes. Sometimes referred to as the "Robert Burns of Wales"...
— Cant o Ganeuon - John Jones (Ioan Emlyn) — Golud yr Oes
- David William Nash — The Pharaoh of the Exodus
- Ebenezer ThomasEbenezer ThomasEbenezer Thomas , better known to Welsh speakers by his bardic name of Eben Fardd, was a Welsh teacher and poet....
— Cyff Beuno
Music
- John Ceiriog HughesJohn Ceiriog HughesJohn Ceiriog Hughes , was a Welsh poet and well-known collector of Welsh folk tunes. Sometimes referred to as the "Robert Burns of Wales"...
— Cant O Ganeuon - John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia) — Llewelyn (cantata)
Sport
- Cricket
- 23 July — South Wales Cricket Club defeat MCC at Lord's.
- 27 July — South Wales Cricket Club defeat Gentlemen of Kent at Cranbrook.
Births
- 15 January — James WebbJames Webb (rugby player)James 'Jim' Webb was an English-born international rugby union player who played club rugby for Newport and international rugby for Wales.-Rugby career:...
, Wales rugby international (died 1913) - 17 January — David Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, politician (died 1945) - 3 March — Arthur MachenArthur MachenArthur Machen was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror...
, writer (died 1947) - 16 March - Dan BeddoeDan BeddoeDan Beddoe was a popular Welsh tenor.Beddoe was born in Aberdare. Some of his recordings can still be heard.Sample of music titles.Irish love song May 19, 1911.Yesterday and today June 24, 1913....
, operatic tenor (died 1937) - 25 March - Owen Philipps, 1st Baron KylsantOwen Philipps, 1st Baron KylsantOwen Cosby Philipps, 1st Baron Kylsant was a British businessman and politician, later jailed for producing a document with intent to deceive.-Background:...
(died 1937) - 13 April — Walter E. ReesWalter E. ReesCaptain Walter Enoch Rees was a Welsh rugby union administrator who was the longest serving secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union and joint manager of the 1910 British Lions tour of South Africa.-Career as rugby administrator:...
, Secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union (died 1949) - May - William Rees Morgan DaviesWilliam Rees Morgan DaviesWilliam Rees Morgan Davies was a British politician. He was a Liberal Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire, from July 1892–1898....
, politician (died 1939) - 8 May — Charles TaylorCharles Taylor (rugby player)Engineer Captain Charles Gerald Taylor LVO was a Royal Navy officer and Wales international rugby union player who played club rugby for Blackheath. He was the first Welsh international to be killed in action during World War I...
Wales rugby international (died 1915) - 18 May — Lewis Davies (Lewis Glyn Cynon), novelist and historian (died 1951)
- 21 May — William Jones Williams, civil servant (died 1949)
- 11 June — Llewellyn Henry GwynneLlewellyn Henry GwynneLlewellyn Henry Gwynne CMG CBE was the first Anglican Bishop of Egypt and Sudan.- Early life :Gwynne was born in Swansea, Wales, in 1863. While at the Swansea Grammar School, the headmaster encouraged him to follow the example of his beloved brother Charlie by working hard and pursuing his...
, first suffragan Bishop of Khartoum (died 1957) - 18 June — George Essex EvansGeorge Essex Evans-Biography:Evans was born in London on 18 June 1863. Both his parents were Welsh. Evans's father, John Evans, Q.C., died in 1864 when Evans was only a few months old. John Evans, who was the Treasurer of the Inner Temple and a member of the House of Commons, left his family a fortune of 60 000...
, Australian poet of Welsh parentage (died 1909) - 2 July — Billy DouglasBilly Douglas (rugby player)William 'Billy' Douglas was a Welsh rugby union back who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. Douglas was also a rugby referee, and officiated over four international matches.-Rugby career:...
, Wales international rugby player (died 1943) - 7 August — Edward Perkins AlexanderEdward Perkins AlexanderEdward Perkins Alexander was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and London Welsh and international rugby for Wales. Alexander also represented several cricket teams, including Llandovery College.-Early life:Alexander was born in 1863 at...
, Wales international rugby player (died 1931) - 8 August — John Herbert Roberts, Baron Clwyd of Abergele, politician (died 1955)
- 17 August — Joseph Harry, minister, writer and teacher (died 1950)
- 29 August — Sir Daniel Lleufer Thomas, magistrate (died 1940)
- 10 September — Walter Rice EvansWalter Rice EvansWalter Rice Evans was a Welsh international rugby union player, who won three caps between 1890 and 1891.-Life:Evans was born in Neath, Glamorgan...
, Wales international rugby player (died 1909) - 7 November — Rowley ThomasRowley ThomasRowland 'Rowley' Lewis Thomas was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for London Welsh, of whom he was a founding member, and county rugby for Middlesex...
, Wales international rugby player (died 1949)
Deaths
- 17 February — Ebenezer ThomasEbenezer ThomasEbenezer Thomas , better known to Welsh speakers by his bardic name of Eben Fardd, was a Welsh teacher and poet....
(Eben Fardd), poet, 60 - 28 February — David Williams (Alaw Goch), industrialist, 53
- 21 March - David GriffithsDavid Griffiths (missionary)David Griffiths , was a British Christian missionary and translator in Madagascar. He translated the Bible and other books into the Malagasy language...
, missionary, 71 - 24 March — Thomas Powell, industrialist, 84
- 13 April — George Cornewall LewisGeorge Cornewall LewisSir George Cornewall Lewis, 2nd Baronet PC was a British statesman and man of letters.-Family:He was born in London, the son of Thomas Frankland Lewis of Harpton Court, Radnorshire and his wife Harriet Cornewall...
, statesman, 56 - May/June — David Bevan Jones (Dewi Elfed), Mormon leader, 55
- 15 July — Edward Pryce Owen, artist, 75
- 8 November — Joseph Hughes (Carn Ingli), poet, 60
- 13 December — Robert Saunderson, printer, 83