1861 in Wales

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales – Albert Edward
• Princess of Wales – vacant

  Events

• 30 May - In a by-election caused by the death of the sitting MP, Richard Grosvenor becomes MP for Flintshire, holding it on behalf of the Liberals.
• 10 June - The Oswestry and Newtown Railway is completed throughout by opening of the section between Abermule and Newtown, giving through rail communication from England to Llanidloes.
• July - Baner ac Amserau Cymru begins twice-weekly publication.
• date unknown
• *Japanese knotweed is recorded at Maesteg - the first record of it growing wild in the UK.
• *Excavation of Long Hole Cave in Glamorgan reveals prehistoric flint artefacts.
• *Pryce Pryce-Jones starts his mail order company in Newtown, Montgomeryshire.
• *John Dillwyn-Llewelyn marries Caroline Hicks Beach.
• *Griffith John becomes the first Christian missionary to penetrate into central China.

  Arts and literature

Awards

• 20-22 August - The first National Eisteddfod of Wales is held at Aberdare. The chair is won by Lewis William Lewis.

  New books

• Autobiography and Correspondence of Mrs. Delaney, ed. Augusta Hall, Lady Llanover
• Griffith Jones - Hywel Wyn
• John Jones - Athrawiaeth yr Iawn
• David Owen - Cofiant y Diweddar Barch. Thomas Williams
• Thomas Rees - History of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales: From Its Rise to the Present Time
• William Rees - Emmanuel
• Jane Williams - The Literary Women of England
• Robert Williams - Fy Noswyl

  Music

• Hugh Jerman - Deus Misereatur

  Sport

• Cricket
• *18 July - South Wales Cricket Club defeat MCC at Lord's.

  Births

• 1 January - John Owen Jones, journalist
• 2 January - William Henry Griffith Thomas, clergyman and academic
• 22 March - Dick Kedzlie, Wales international rugby player
• 7 April - Clara Novello Davies, singer
• 5 May - John Edward Lloyd, historian
• 31 July at Garneddwen - Alfred W. Hughes, surgeon and founder of the Welsh Hospital in South Africa
• 27 August - Reginald Brooks-King, archer
• 10 September - Sir John Lynn-Thomas, surgeon
• 19 September - Evan Roberts, Wales international rugby player
• 26 October - Richard Griffith, writer
• 28 December - David Gwynn, Wales international rugby player
• date unknown
• *William Stadden, rugby player
• *John Williams, politician

  Deaths

• 6 February - Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet, 84
• 20 April - David Pugh, merchant, landowner and politician,
• 8 May - Thomas Lloyd-Mostyn, politician, 31
• 17 May - Ellis Owen Ellis, artist, 48?
• 2 August - Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea, statesman, 50
• 5 September - William Addams Williams, lawyer, landowner and politician, 74
• 26 September - Morris Davies, poet, 71
• 25 October - Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet, former MP for Pembroke, 69