1868 in Wales
Encyclopedia
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1868 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 - 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
- 22 January — Sixteen vessels are lost in a gale off the Burry estuary, with a total of thirty lives lost.
- 1 February — At the bridge over the Severn at CaerswsCaerswsCaersws is a village and community sitting on the River Severn, at miles west of Newtown, Powys, and halfway between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.- History & Amenities :...
an approach embankment, damaged by flood water, collapses under a train. The driver and fireman are killed. - 20 August — 33 people die in a fire resulting from a collision between a mail train and a set of trucks at Llandulas station near AbergeleAbergeleAbergele is a community and old Roman trading town, situated on the north coast of Wales between the holiday resorts of Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy County Borough. Its northern suburb of Pensarn lies on the Irish Sea coast and is known for its beach, where it is claimed by some that a ghost ship...
, the greatest loss of life in a railway accident in Wales. - October — Work begins on Nant-y-FfrithNant-y-FfrithNant-y-Ffrith refers to a stream and the wooded valley through which it flows on the border between Flintshire and Wrexham County Borough in Wales. The stream begins in moorland to the east of Llandegla. It passes Bwlchgwyn village before entering a rather steep-sided, rocky valley...
reservoir. - 2 December — The United Kingdom general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1868The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom...
leaves Gladstone's Liberals the dominant party in Wales, with 21 seats.- Among the Conservative members who lose their seats are Crawshay BaileyCrawshay BaileyCrawshay Bailey was an English industrialist who became one of the great iron-masters of Wales.-Early life:Bailey was born in 1789 in Great Wenham, Suffolk, the son of John Bailey, of Wakefield and his wife Susannah...
and Henry Austin Bruce, the latter replaced by two MPs for the expanded constituency of Merthyr Tydfil: Richard FothergillRichard FothergillRichard Fothergill was an English ironmaster and coal-owner in Wales and a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1880....
and Henry RichardHenry RichardRev. Henry Richard MP , "the Apostle of Peace", was a Congregational minister and Welsh Member of Parliament, 1868-88. The son of the Rev...
. - Richard DaviesRichard Davies (MP)Richard Davies was a Welsh businessman and ship-owner and non-conformist Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1886....
becomes MP for AngleseyYnys Môn (UK Parliament constituency)Ynys Môn is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
. - Love Jones-Parry wins Caernarvonshire from Douglas Pennant.
- George Osborne MorganGeorge Osborne MorganSir George Osborne Morgan, 1st Baronet PC, QC, was a Welsh lawyer and Liberal politician.Born at Gothenburg, Sweden, he was educated at Friars School, Bangor, Shrewsbury School and Balliol College, Oxford, and was a scholar of Worcester College, Oxford from 1847.He became a barrister of Lincoln's...
is elected for the first time in Denbighshire. - Farmers in CardiganshireCeredigionCeredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
are evicted for returning a Liberal MP, Thomas LloydSir Thomas Lloyd, 1st BaronetSir Thomas Davies Lloyd, 1st Baronet , was a British Liberal Member of Parliament, for Cardiganshire 1865-1868 and Cardigan Boroughs 1868-1874. An old fashioned Whig Liberal, he defeated David Davies of Llandinam for Cardiganshire, 1865...
.
- Among the Conservative members who lose their seats are Crawshay Bailey
- Norwegian Seamen's Mission opens in CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. - Opening of the Bala Lake RailwayBala Lake RailwayThe Bala Lake Railway is a preserved railway at Bala Lake, in Gwynedd, north Wales, which runs for a distance of using gauge rolling stock....
. - John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of ButeJohn Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of ButeJohn Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute KT, KSG, KGCHS was a landed aristocrat, industrial magnate, antiquarian, scholar, philanthropist and architectural patron.-Early life:...
, sponsors restoration work at Caerphilly CastleCaerphilly CastleCaerphilly Castle is a medieval castle that dominates the centre of the town of Caerphilly in south Wales. It is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest in Britain after Windsor Castle...
. - First publication of the Welsh-language periodical, Baner America, in the USA.
- Y Dydd is founded, with Samuel Roberts (S. R.) as editor.
- Iron AgeIron AgeThe Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
crannog is discovered on an island in Llangorse LakeLlangorse LakeLlangorse Lake is the largest natural lake in south Wales, and is situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, near to the town of Brecon and the village of Llangors....
, near BreconBreconBrecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
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New books
- Robert Elis (Cynddelw) — Geiriadur Cymreig Cymraeg
- 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"...
— Oriau eraill - Jabez Edmund Jenkins — Rhiangerdd — Gwenfron o'r Dyffryn
- Griffith Jones (Glan Menai) — Enwogion Sir Aberteifi
- Rhys Gwesyn Jones — Caru, Priodi, a Byw
- John Phillips (Tegidon) — Y Ddeilen ar y Traeth
- William Forbes SkeneWilliam Forbes SkeneWilliam Forbes Skene , Scottish historian and antiquary, was the second son of Sir Walter Scott's friend, James Skene , of Rubislaw, near Aberdeen....
— The Four Ancient Books of Wales
Music
- William Lewis Barrett is appointed flautist at the Italian Opera of Lutz.
- Gŵyl Ardudwy music festival is founded by John Roberts (Ieuan Gwyllt)John Roberts (Ieuan Gwyllt)Ieuan Gwyllt was the bardic name of Welsh musician and minister John Roberts . His bardic name is derived from the nome de plume he used whilst writing poetry as a boy, 'Ieuan Gwyllt Gelltydd Melindwr' . He was born at Tanrhiwfelen, a house just outside Aberystwyth, and died in Caernarfon on 14...
. - Publication of Llyfr Tonau ac Emynau, edited by Edward StephenEdward StephenEdward Jones Stephen , often known by his bardic name of Tanymarian, was a Welsh musician, singer and composer, mainly of hymns and songs....
(Tanymarian) and Joseph David JonesJoseph David JonesJoseph David Jones was a Welsh composer and schoolmaster, commonly known as J. D. Jones. He was the father of industrialist Sir Henry Haydn Jones....
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Sport
- Cricket
- May — A team from Cadoxton play the United South of England (including W. G. GraceW. G. GraceWilliam Gilbert Grace, MRCS, LRCP was an English amateur cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time, having a special significance in terms of his importance to the development of the sport...
) at The GnollThe GnollThe Gnoll in Neath, Wales is a sports ground, with a capacity of 5,000.In July 2009, Neath RFC presented plans for the redevelopment of the Gnoll, including building a community centre on the site, which were criticised as "too woolly".-Rugby union:...
, NeathNeathNeath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
.
- May — A team from Cadoxton play the United South of England (including W. G. Grace
Births
- 29 May — Sydney NichollsSydney NichollsSydney 'Sid' Herbert Nicholls was an English-born dual code rugby forward who played club rugby under the union code for Cardiff and in his later years league rugby with Hull. Nicholls won four caps for Wales and was part of the Welsh team that beat the first touring Southern Hemisphere team the...
, Wales rugby internatiol player (d. 1946) - 10 June
- John Jones (Ioan Brothen), poet (d. 1940)
- David Prosser, bishop (d. 1950)
- 2 August — Sir Alfred Edward Lewis, banker (d. 1940)
- 28 August — Thomas Charles WilliamsThomas Charles WilliamsThomas Charles Williams was a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist minister, who served as Moderator of the denomination's General Assembly.-Life:...
, minister (d. 1927) - 29 December — William Owen Jones (Eos y Gogledd), musician (d. 1928)
- date unknown
- Roger DoughtyRoger DoughtyRoger Doughty was a Welsh association footballer who played as an outside left for Druids before joining Newton Heath in June 1886. He was part of the Heathens' team that joined the Football Alliance in 1889, but left in 1892. He returned for one season in 1896–97.Although he was born in Cannock...
, footballer (d. 1914) - David MatthewsDavid Matthews (Liberal politician)David Matthews was a Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom.-Parliamentary politics:Matthews was elected as a Coalition Liberal Member of Parliament for Swansea East at a by-election in 1919 following the death of the Liberal MP Thomas Jeremiah Williams...
, politician
- Roger Doughty
Deaths
- 13 January — John ParryJohn Parry (Mormon)John Parry Sr. was an early Welsh convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the first musical conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir....
, Mormon convert, 79 - 22 June — Owain Meirion, poet, 65
- 17 August — William Nevill, 4th Earl of AbergavennyWilliam Nevill, 4th Earl of AbergavennyWilliam Nevill, 4th Earl of Abergavenny was a British peer. The son of Henry Nevill, 2nd Earl of Abergavenny, he succeeded to the earldom upon the death of his brother, who had died without issue.The Hon...
, 76 - 11 September — Maria James, poet, 74
- 24 November — Sir John Dorney Harding, lawyer, 59
- date unknown
- Dafydd Jones (Dewi Dywyll), balladeer (born 1803)
- John VaughanJohn Vaughan (Middlesbrough)John Vaughan was born in Worcester, he worked as a foreman at Dowlais Ironworks in South Wales. Later he moved to Walker-on-Tyne near Newcastle and became a manager for Losh, Wilson and Bell Ironworks....
, ironmaster