This article is about the particular significance of the year

1840 Events January–March * January 3 – One of the predecessor papers of the ''Herald Sun'' of Melbourne, Australia, ''The Port Phillip Herald'', is founded. * January 10 – Uniform Penny Post is introduced in the United Kingdom. * Janua ...

to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

* Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey –

Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey (17 May 1768 – 29 April 1854), styled Lord Paget between 1784 and 1812 and known as the Earl of Uxbridge between 1812 and 1815, was a British Army officer and politician. After serving as a member ...

* Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire – Penry Williams * Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire – Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby * Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire – William Edward Powell * Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire – George Rice, 3rd Baron Dynevor *

Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire This is an incomplete list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire in Wales. After 1733, all Lord Lieutenants were also Custos Rotulorum of Denbighshire. The office was abolished on 31 March 1974, being replaced by the Lord Lieut ...

–

Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 5th Baronet Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 5th Baronet (25 October 1772 – 6 January 1840) was a Welsh landowner and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1794 to 1840. Biography Williams-Wynn was the son of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Baronet ...

(until 6 January); Robert Myddelton Biddulph (from 8 February) * Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire – Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster * Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan – John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute * Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire –

(until 6 January);

Edward Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn Edward Mostyn Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn (13 January 1795 – 17 March 1884), was a British peer and Member of Parliament (MP). Mostyn was the son of Edward Lloyd, 1st Baron Mostyn. Born Edward Lloyd, assumed by Royal licence the addit ...

(from 25 January) * Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire – Capel Hanbury Leigh * Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire –

Edward Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis Edward Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis, KG (22 March 1785 – 17 January 1848), styled Viscount Clive between 1804 and 1839, was a British peer and Tory politician. He was the grandson of Clive of India. Early life Edward was born on 22 March 1 ...

* Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet * Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – George Rodney, 3rd Baron Rodney * Bishop of Bangor –

Christopher Bethell Christopher Bethell (21 April 1773 – 19 April 1859) was Bishop of Bangor. Bethell was the second son of the Reverend Richard Bethell, the rector of St Peter's Wallingford, Berkshire, who died 12 January 1806 having married his wife Ann in 177 ...

* Bishop of Llandaff – Edward Copleston *

Bishop of St Asaph The Bishop of St Asaph heads the Church in Wales diocese of St Asaph. The diocese covers the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys. The Episcopal seat is loca ...

– William Carey * Bishop of St Davids – John Jenkinson (until 7 July); Connop Thirlwall (from 9 August)

Events

1 January January 1 or 1 January is the first day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 364 days remaining until the end of the year (365 in leap years). This day is also known as New Year's Day since the day marks the beginning of the year. ...

- Trial of Chartists John Frost, Zephaniah Williams and William Jones for their part in the Newport Rising of 1839 continues at

Monmouth Monmouth ( , ; cy, Trefynwy meaning "town on the Monnow") is a town and community in Wales. It is situated where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. Monmouth is northeast of Cardiff, and west of London. I ...

before Chief Justice Tindal. This is the first trial where proceedings are recorded in shorthand. *

16 January Events Pre-1600 *27 BC – Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus is granted the title Augustus by the Roman Senate, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire. * 378 – General Siyaj K'ak' conquers Tikal, enlarging the domain of King Speart ...

- Frost, Williams and Jones are all found guilty of high treason for their part in the Chartist riots, and are sentenced to death - the last time the sentence of

hanging, drawing and quartering To be hanged, drawn and quartered became a statutory penalty for men convicted of high treason in the Kingdom of England from 1352 under King Edward III (1327–1377), although similar rituals are recorded during the reign of King Henry I ...

is passed in the United Kingdom, although following a nationwide petitioning campaign and, extraordinarily, direct lobbying of the Home Secretary by the Lord Chief Justice, it is commuted to transportation for life (and Frost is much later pardoned). *

5 June Events Pre-1600 *1257 – Kraków, in Poland, receives city rights. * 1283 – Battle of the Gulf of Naples: Roger of Lauria, admiral to King Peter III of Aragon, destroys the Neapolitan fleet and captures Charles of Salerno. *1288 ...

- Joseph Brown is appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Roman Catholic District of Wales, being consecrated as a bishop on 28 October. *

8 October Events Pre-1600 * 314 – Constantine I defeats Roman Emperor Licinius, who loses his European territories. * 451 – The first session of the Council of Chalcedon begins. * 876 – Frankish forces led by Louis the Younger preve ...

- Taff Vale Railway is officially opened, the first steam-worked passenger railway in Wales, running from Cardiff docks to Navigation House at Abercynon via the Cardiff station known in modern days as Queen Street. Public service begins the following day. *

30 October Events Pre-1600 * 637 – Arab–Byzantine wars: Antioch surrenders to the Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of the Iron Bridge. * 758 – Guangzhou is sacked by Arab and Persian pirates. *1137 – Ranulf of Apulia defeats Roger ...

- First branch of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wales The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wales refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Wales. History First missionaries in Wales Church beginnings The first missionaries from the ...

formed in Flintshire. * 18 November - The paddle steamer ''City of Bristol'' is wrecked at Llangennith, Gower, drowning about 22 people. *Approximate date - Rebuilding of

Gregynog Hall Gregynog () is a large country mansion in the village of Tregynon, northwest of Newtown in the old county of Montgomeryshire, now Powys in mid Wales. There has been a settlement on the site since the twelfth century. From the fifteenth to t ...

with extensive use of concrete begins.

Arts and literature

*An eisteddfod is held at Liverpool.

New books

English language

* Sir John Hanmer - ''Memorials of the Parish and Family of Hanmer'' * William Lloyd - ''The Narrative of a Journey from Cawnpoor to the Boorendo Pass''

Welsh language

* Evan Davies (Eta Delta) - ''Y Weinidogaeth a'r Eglwysi'' * David Price (Dewi Dinorwig) - ''Y Catechism Cyntaf'' *

Taliesin Williams Taliesin Williams (bardic name Taliesin ab Iolo or Ab Iolo; 9 July 1787 – 16 February 1847) was a Welsh poet and author, and son of the notable Iolo Morganwg. He was born in Cardiff, went to school in Cowbridge, and became an assistant teache ...

- ''Hynafiaeth ac Awdurdodaeth Coelbren y Beirdd''

Music

* John Orlando Parry - ''Wanted: a Governess'' (opera)

Births

7 February Events Pre-1600 * 457 – Leo I becomes the Eastern Roman emperor. * 987 – Bardas Phokas the Younger and Bardas Skleros, Byzantine generals of the military elite, begin a wide-scale rebellion against Emperor Basil II. *1301 &ndash ...

- Charles Warren, military and police officer and archaeologist (died

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith becomes the first Director-General. * January 7 * ...

) *

21 June Events Pre-1600 * 533 – A Byzantine expeditionary fleet under Belisarius sails from Constantinople to attack the Vandals in Africa, via Greece and Sicily (approximate date). * 1307 – Külüg Khan is enthroned as Khagan of the Mo ...

- Sir

John Rhŷs Sir John Rhŷs, (also spelled Rhys; 21 June 1840 – 17 December 1915) was a Welsh scholar, fellow of the British Academy, Celticist and the first professor of Celtic at Oxford University. Early years and education He was born John Rees a ...

, educationist (died 1915) *

16 September Events Pre-1600 * 681 – Pope Honorius I is posthumously excommunicated by the Sixth Ecumenical Council. *1400 – Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers. 1601–1900 *1620 – A determined band of 35 religi ...

Alfred Thomas, 1st Baron Pontypridd Alfred Thomas, 1st Baron Pontypridd (16 September 1840 – 14 December 1927), was a Welsh Liberal Party politician, who served as MP for East Glamorganshire from 1885 until 1910, when he was elevated to the peerage as Lord Pontypridd. Bac ...

(died 1927) *

29 November Events Pre-1600 * 561 – Following the death of King Chlothar I at Compiègne, his four sons, Charibert I, Guntram, Sigebert I and Chilperic I, divide the Frankish Kingdom. * 618 – The Tang dynasty scores a decisive victory over ...

Rhoda Broughton Rhoda Broughton (29 November 1840 – 5 June 1920) was a Welsh novelist and short story writer.Robert Hadji, "Rhoda Broughton" in Jack Sullivan (ed) (1986) ''The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural'' Viking Press, 1986, , p. 285 ...

, novelist (died 1920) * 3 December - Francis Kilvert, diarist (died

1879 Events January–March * January 1 – The Specie Resumption Act takes effect. The United States Note is valued the same as gold, for the first time since the American Civil War. * January 11 – The Anglo-Zulu War begins. * Janu ...

) *

5 December Events Pre-1600 *63 BC – Cicero gives the fourth and final of the Catiline Orations. * 633 – Fourth Council of Toledo opens, presided over by Isidore of Seville. * 1033 – The Jordan Rift Valley earthquake destroys multiple ...

- John E. Jones, governor of Nevada (died 1896) *

17 December Events Pre-1600 *497 BC – The first Saturnalia festival was celebrated in ancient Rome. * 546 – Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoths under king Totila plunder the city, by bribing the Byzantine garrison. * 920 – Romanos I Lekapen ...

Matthew Vaughan-Davies, 1st Baron Ystwyth Matthew Lewis Vaughan-Davies, 1st Baron Ystwyth (17 December 1840 – 21 August 1935) was a Welsh Liberal Party politician. He was Liberal MP for the Cardiganshire Division from 1895 until 1921. Background He was born at Tan-y-Bwlch, Cardig ...

, politician (died 1935)

Deaths

* 6 January -

, politician and soldier, 67 *

17 March Events Pre-1600 *45 BC – In his last victory, Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger in the Battle of Munda. * 180 – Commodus becomes sole emperor of the Roman Empire at the age of eig ...

- William Williams of Wern, 58 *

19 May Events Pre-1600 * 639 – Ashina Jiesheshuai and his tribesmen assaulted Emperor Taizong at Jiucheng Palace. * 715 – Pope Gregory II is elected. * 1051 – Henry I of France marries the Rus' princess, Anne of Kiev. *1445 &n ...

John Blackwell (Alun) John Blackwell (1797 – 19 May 1840), who used the bardic name Alun, was a Welsh language poet. Life Blackwell was born near Mold, Flintshire, in north Wales, and followed the trade of a shoemaker. He won prizes offered for poems and essay ...

, poet, 42? *

7 July Events Pre-1600 *1124 – The city of Tyre falls to the Venetian Crusade after a siege of nineteen weeks. *1456 – A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her execution. *1520 – Spanish '' conquistadore ...

- John Jenkinson, Bishop of St Davids, 58

- George Hay Dawkins-Pennant, politician, 76

References

{{reflist Wales Wales 1840 in Europe 1840s in Wales