1904 in Wales
Encyclopedia
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1904 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...
- George, Prince of WalesGeorge V of the United KingdomGeorge V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, son of King Edward VII of the United KingdomEdward 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... - 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...
- Mary of TeckMary of TeckMary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V.... - ArchdruidArchdruidThe Archdruid is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, The Award of the Prose Medal and Chairing of the Bard. From 1932 only former winners of the...
of the National Eisteddfod of WalesNational Eisteddfod of WalesThe National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
- Hwfa MônRowland Williams (Hwfa Môn)Rev. Rowland Williams , commonly known by his bardic name of "Hwfa Môn", was a Welsh clergyman and poet, who served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1895 to 1905.- Early Life and education:...
Events
- January - Opening of LlanelliLlanelliLlanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
North Dock. - 5 January - Opening of Tanat Valley Light RailwayTanat Valley Light RailwayThe Tanat Valley Light Railway was a long standard gauge light railway connecting Llangynog with Blodwel in Wales. It opened in 1903 and closed in January 1964.-History:...
between Lynclys and LlangynogLlangynogLlangynog lies at the confluence of the Afon Eirth and the Afon Tanat at the foot of the Berwyn range in Powys, Wales. Pop c.300It lies at the foot of the Milltir Cerrig mountain pass on the B4391 road, which runs between Llan Ffestiniog and Llanfyllin .It is surrounded by mountains and is a...
. - February - Beginning of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival1904-1905 Welsh RevivalThe Welsh Revival was the largest Christian revival in Wales during the 20th century. While by no means the best known of revivals, it was one of the most dramatic in terms of its effect on the population, and it had repercussions that reached far beyond the Welsh border, triggering a series of...
. - 4 May - Frederick Henry Royce meets Charles Stewart Rolls to discuss the Rolls-Royce agreement.
- 21 July - King Edward VII of the United KingdomEdward 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...
and Queen AlexandraAlexandra of DenmarkAlexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
open the Elan Valley ReservoirsElan Valley ReservoirsThe Elan Valley Reservoirs are a chain of man-made lakes and reservoirs in the Elan Valley in Powys, Mid Wales , using the rivers Elan and Claerwen...
. - 3 August - The first Royal Welsh ShowRoyal Welsh ShowThe Royal Welsh Show is the biggest agricultural show in Europe. It is organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was formed in 1904, and takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales....
is held in AberystwythAberystwythAberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
. - 28–29 September - A conference at Blaenannerch reinforces the strength of the religious revival.
- October - Evan RobertsEvan Roberts (minister)Evan John Roberts , was a leading figure of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival who suffered many setbacks in his later life.His obituary in The Western Mail summed up his career thus:- Early life :...
begins preaching. - 3 October - Five people are killed in a railway accident near LoughorLoughorLoughor is a town in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Loughor. The town has a community council called Llwchwr....
. - November - Joseph JenkinsJoseph JenkinsJoseph Jenkins , was an educated tenant farmer from Tregaron, Ceredigion, mid-Wales who, when aged over 50, suddenly deserted his home and large family to seek his fortune in Australia...
, instigator of the religious revival, is guest preacher at meetings in Bethany, Ammanford, and "converts" incumbent minister Nantlais WilliamsNantlais WilliamsWilliam Nantlais Williams , better known simply as Nantlais, was a Welsh poet and a Presbyterian Christian leader during the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival.- Background :...
. - Second Meeting of the Celtic Association is held at CaernarfonCaernarfonCaernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
. - Orthopaedic surgeon Robert JonesRobert Jones (surgeon)Sir Robert Jones, 1st Baronet, KBE, CB was a British orthopaedic surgeon who helped to establish the modern specialty of orthpaedic surgery in Britain....
becomes Honorary Surgeon to the BaschurchBaschurchBaschurch is a large village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies in North Shropshire, north of Shrewsbury. Population: 1,475 . The village has strong links to Shrewsbury to the south-east, Oswestry to the north-west, and Wem to the north-east. Baschurch is twinned with the town of Giat...
Home in Shropshire, which he was to develop into the world's first specialized orthopaedic hospital. - Thomas Marchant Williams is knighted in recognition of his role in founding the National Eisteddfod Society.
- In local authority elections, the Liberal Party win control of all county councils in Wales.
Arts and literature
- February - Gwen JohnGwen JohnGwendolen Mary John was a Welsh artist who worked in France for most of her career. She is noted for her still lifes and for her portraits, especially of anonymous female sitters...
arrives in Paris, in the company of Dorelia McNeillDorelia McNeillDorothy McNeill was best known as a model for the Welsh artists Gwen John and Augustus John, was the common-law wife of the latter, and has been credited for inspiring "his first unequivocally personal work"...
.
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of WalesNational Eisteddfod of WalesThe National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
- held in RhylRhylRhyl is a seaside resort town and community situated on the north east coast of Wales, in the county of Denbighshire , at the mouth of the River Clwyd . To the west is the suburb of Kinmel Bay, with the resort of Towyn further west, Prestatyn to the east and Rhuddlan to the south...
- Chair - J. Machreth Rees
- Crown - Richard Machno Humphreys
New books
- John Romilly Allen - Celtic Art in Pagan and Christian Times
- Sir Joseph Alfred Bradney - History of Monmouthshire, vol. 1
- Owen Dafydd - Cynhyrchion Barddonol yr Hen Felinydd Owen Dafydd Cwmaman (posthumously published)
- Eluned Morgan (author)Eluned Morgan (author)Eluned Morgan , was a Welsh-language author from Patagonia.Born aboard the ship Myfanwy en route from Britain to Patagonia in South America, she was the daughter of Lewis Jones who gave his name to the city of Trelew, in Argentina...
- Dringo'r Andes - Silyn RobertsSilyn RobertsRobert Silyn Roberts was a Welsh clergyman, writer, teacher and pacifist.Roberts, a Calvinistic Methodist minister, was a noted Welsh-language poet, the winner of the Crown at the 1902 National Eisteddfod of Wales...
- Trystan ac Esyllt a Chaniadau Eraill
Sport
- Rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
- In the first international league match, played between EnglandEngland national rugby league teamThe England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
and Other nationalitiesOther Nationalities rugby league teamThe Other Nationalities rugby league team regularly played international, and also county, rugby league football teams in Europe from 1904 to 1975. The team, created in 1904 to play England in the first ever rugby league international match, was at first made up of Welsh and Scottish players...
, ex-Wales rugby international Jack RhappsJack RhappsJohn "Jack" Rhapps was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Penygraig and international rugby for Wales...
becomes the World's first dual-code rugby international. - Rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
- Percy BushPercy BushPercy Frank Bush was a Welsh rugby union player who played international rugby for Wales on eight occasions. Playing at fly-half, Bush is regarded as one of the most talented Welsh players before the first World War.-Rugby career:...
scores 104 points for the British team on their tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Births
- March - Daniel Granville West, Baron Granville-West, politician (died 1984)
- 6 March - Hugh WilliamsHugh WilliamsHugh Williams was an English actor and dramatist of Welsh descent.-Personal life:...
, actor and dramatist (died 1969) - 12 April - David JenkinsDavid Jenkins (rugby)David "Dai" Jenkins was a Welsh dual-code international rugby footballer who played rugby union for Swansea and rugby league for Leeds RLFC, and representing internationally in both sports.-Rugby career:...
, Wales national rugby footballer (died 1951) - 18 May - Eynon EvansEynon EvansEynon Evans also known as E. Eynon Rees was a Welsh writer and film actor of the 1950s, mainly known for his radio and television work. During the 1940s he appeared on the BBC radio variety show Welsh Rarebit as the comedic character Tommy Troubles, reaching an audience of 12 million.-Career...
, actor and screenwriter - 7 June - Tom LewisTom Lewis (rugby player)Tom Lewis was a Welsh international number 8 who played club rugby for Cardiff and was capped three times for Wales. Lewis began his rugby career with his local team Taffs Well before being selected to play for first class team Cardiff...
, Wales international rugby player (died 1994) - 8 June - Angus McBeanAngus McBeanAngus McBean , was a Welsh photographer, associated with surrealism.-Biography:Angus McBean was born in South Wales in June 1904. Despite the surname and the family's claim to be head of the sub-clan McBean, they had been Welsh for generations. Clem McBean was a surveyor in the mines and the family...
, photographer (died 1990) - 26 June - Prof Seaborne DaviesSeaborne DaviesProfessor David Richard Seaborne Davies was a Welsh law teacher who served briefly as a Liberal Party Member of Parliament .- Early life :...
, law teacher and three times President of the National Eisteddfod (died 1984) - 27 June - Emrys DaviesEmrys DaviesDavid Emrys Davies was a Glamorgan cricketer and in his later years a Test cricket umpire.Davies was born in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. His first class career for Glamorgan lasted for thirty one years, from 1924 till 1954...
, cricketer (died 1975) - 29 June - Lynn Ungoed-ThomasLynn Ungoed-ThomasArwyn Lynn Ungoed-Thomas , known as Lynn Ungoed-Thomas, was a Welsh Labour Party politician and British judge.-Biography:...
, politician (died 1972) - 28 July - Ned JenkinsNed JenkinsNed Jenkins was an international rugby union lock who represented Wales and played club rugby for Aberavon. Like fellow team mate Tom Arthur, Jenkins was an amateur boxer.-Rugby career:...
, Wales international rugby player (died 1990) - 31 July - Harold Davies, Baron Davies of LeekHarold Davies, Baron Davies of LeekHarold Davies, Baron Davies of Leek, PC was a British Labour Party politician.He was elected at the 1945 general election as Member of Parliament for Leek in Staffordshire, and held the seat until his defeat at the 1970 general election by the Conservative candidate David Knox...
, politician (died 1985) - 8 August - Dai ParkerDai ParkerDavid 'Dai' Parker was a Welsh international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Swansea. He won ten caps for Wales and was selected to play in the 1930 British Lions tour of New Zealand and Australia.-Club career:...
, Wales and British Lion rugby player (died 1965) - 22 August - Tommy ReesTommy ReesThomas 'Tommy' Edgar Rees was a Welsh international rugby fullback who played rugby union at club level for London Welsh...
, Wales dual-code rugby player (died 1968) - 12 September - Euros BowenEuros BowenEuros Bowen was a Welsh language poet.Born in Treorchy, and a brother of the poet Geraint Bowen, he was educated in the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, and later at the University of Wales and Mansfield College, Oxford...
, poet (died 1988) - 24 September - George AndrewsGeorge Andrews (rugby player)George Edward Andrews was a Welsh dual code rugby wing who played rugby union for Newport RFC and rugby league for Leeds. Andrews was capped for the Wales rugby union team on five occasions.-Rugby career:...
, Wales dual-code rugby player (died 1989) - 27 September - John Gwilym Jones, dramatist (died 1988)
- 30 September - Waldo WilliamsWaldo WilliamsWaldo Williams was one of the leading Welsh language poets of the twentieth century. He was also a notable pacifist, anti-war campaigner, and Welsh nationalist.-Life:...
, poet (died 1971) - 15 October - Sir Julian HodgeJulian HodgeSir Julian Hodge was a London-born entrepreneur and banker who lived in Wales for most of his life, from the age of five. He formed the Bank of Wales , and later the Julian Hodge Bank in Cardiff.- Background and beginnings :As the son of a plumber, he came from humble beginnings...
, banker (died 2004) - 3 November - Caradog PrichardCaradog PrichardCaradog Prichard was a Welsh poet and novelist writing in Welsh. His daughter, Mari Prichard, was married to the late Humphrey Carpenter....
, poet and novelist (died 1980) - date unknown
- Leslie MorrisLeslie MorrisLeslie Tim Morris was a Welsh-Canadian politician, journalist and long time member of the Communist Party of Canada and, its front group, the Labour-Progressive Party....
, politician in Canada (died 1964) - Sir Thomas ParryThomas Parry (author)Sir Thomas Parry was a Welsh author and Academic. He was Librarian of the National Library of Wales from 1953 to 1958, and Principal of the University College of Wales Aberystwyth from 1958 to 1969. The Thomas Parry Library located on Aberystwyth University's Llanbadarn Campus was named in his...
, academic (died 1985) - Richard Vaughan, novelist (died 1983)
- Leslie Morris
Deaths
- 10 May - Sir Henry Morton StanleyHenry Morton StanleySir Henry Morton Stanley, GCB, born John Rowlands , was a Welsh journalist and explorer famous for his exploration of Africa and his search for David Livingstone. Upon finding Livingstone, Stanley allegedly uttered the now-famous greeting, "Dr...
, explorer - 26 June - William Ormsby-Gore, 2nd Baron HarlechWilliam Ormsby-Gore, 2nd Baron HarlechWilliam Richard Ormsby-Gore, 2nd Baron Harlech was an Anglo-Irish peer and Member of Parliament.Ormsby-Gore was the younger son of William Ormsby-Gore and Mary Jane Ormsby. He was educated at Eton College and later purchased an Ensigncy in the 53rd Foot...
- 17 July - Isaac RobertsIsaac RobertsIsaac Roberts was a Welsh engineer and business man best known for his work as an amateur astronomer, pioneering the field of astrophotography of nebulae. He was a member of the Liverpool Astronomical Society in England and was a fellow of the Royal Geological Society...
, astronomer - 24 November - Lewis JonesLewis Jones (Patagonia)Lewis Jones was one of the founders of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia. The city of Trelew was named after him....
, Patagonian settler - 29 December - Edward TreharneEdward TreharneEdward Llewellyn Treharne was a Welsh rugby union forward who played club rugby for Pontypridd and Cardiff, and international rugby for Wales. He is most notable for being a member of the first Wales international team that played England in 1881...
, Wales international rugby player - date unknown - James Lewis Thomas, architect