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1840s The 1840s (pronounced "eighteen-forties") was a decade of the Gregorian calendar that began on January 1, 1840, and ended on December 31, 1849. The decade was noted in Europe for featuring the largely unsuccessful Revolutions of 1848, also know ...

1860s The 1860s (pronounced "eighteen-sixties") was a decade of the Gregorian calendar that began on January 1, 1860, and ended on December 31, 1869. The decade was noted for featuring numerous major societal shifts in the Americas. In the United St ...

, Other years in Wales , - , , Other events of the decade This article is about the particular significance of the decade 1850–1859 to

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

and its people.

Events

1850 Events January–June * April ** Pope Pius IX returns from exile to Rome. ** Stephen Foster's parlor ballad "Ah! May the Red Rose Live Alway" is published in the United States. * April 4 – Los Angeles is incorporated as a cit ...

1851 Events January–March * January 11 – Hong Xiuquan officially begins the Taiping Rebellion. * January 15 – Christian Female College, modern-day Columbia College, receives its charter from the Missouri General Assembly. ...

1852 Events January–March * January 14 – President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte proclaims a new constitution for the French Second Republic. * January 15 – Nine men representing various Jewish charitable organizations come tog ...

1853 Events January–March * January 6 – Florida Governor Thomas Brown signs legislation that provides public support for the new East Florida Seminary, leading to the establishment of the University of Florida. * January 8 – Taiping Reb ...

1854 Events January–March * January 4 – The McDonald Islands are discovered by Captain William McDonald aboard the ''Samarang''. * January 6 – The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is perhaps born. * January 9 – The Teut ...

1855 Events January–March * January 1 – Ottawa, Ontario, is incorporated as a city. * January 5 – Ramón Castilla begins his third term as President of Peru. * January 23 ** The first bridge over the Mississippi River opens ...

1856 Events January–March * January 8 – Borax deposits are discovered in large quantities by John Veatch in California. * January 23 – American paddle steamer SS ''Pacific'' leaves Liverpool (England) for a transatlantic voyag ...

1857 Events January–March * January 1 – The biggest Estonian newspaper, ''Postimees'', is established by Johann Voldemar Jannsen. * January 7 – The partly French-owned London General Omnibus Company begins operating. * Janua ...

1858 Events January–March * January – **Benito Juárez (1806–1872) becomes Liberal President of Mexico. At the same time, conservatives install Félix María Zuloaga (1813–1898) as president. **William I of Prussia becomes regent f ...

1859 Events January–March * January 21 – José Mariano Salas (1797–1867) becomes Conservative interim President of Mexico. * January 24 ( O. S.) – Wallachia and Moldavia are united under Alexandru Ioan Cuza (Romania since 1866, final u ...

Arts and literature

Awards

National Eisteddfod of Wales The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh language, Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Eur ...

*1853 — "Islwyn" wins the crown at the

Abergavenny Abergavenny (; cy, Y Fenni , archaically ''Abergafenni'' meaning "mouth of the River Gavenny") is a market town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales. Abergavenny is promoted as a ''Gateway to Wales''; it is approximately from the border wi ...

eisteddfod. *1858 — "Great Eisteddfod" at Llangollen; early appearance of Gorsedd ceremony.

New books

Anne Beale Anne Beale (1816 – 17 April 1900) was a popular English novelist and poet based in Wales. Her poetry, novels and stories appeared in print for over 50 years in her lifetime: "an unusually long career as an author".Jane Aaron''Nineteenth-Centur ...

— ''Gladys of Harlech'' (1858) *

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 ...

— ''Ceinion Alun'' (1851;posthumously published) * B. B. Davies — ''The History of Wales'' (1853) * Samuel Evans (Gomerydd) — ''Y Gomerydd'' (1854) *

John Ceiriog Hughes John Ceiriog Hughes (25 September 1832 – 23 April 1887) was a Welsh poet and collector of Welsh folk tunes, sometimes termed a Robert Burns of Wales. He was born at Penybryn Farm, overlooking the village of Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog in the Cei ...

— ''Gohebiaethau Syr Meurig Crynswth'' (vol. 1) (1856) * Aneurin Jones — ''Tafol y Beirdd''(1852) **

John Jones (Talhaiarn) John Jones (19 January 1810 – October 1869), known by his bardic name of Talhaiarn, was a Welsh poet and architect. Life and reputation Jones was born at the ''Harp Inn'' (now known as ''Hafod y Gân'') in Llanfair Talhaearn, Denbighshire. ...

— ''Gwaith Talhaiarn'', vol. 1 (1855) *

Owen Wynne Jones Owen Wynne Jones (4 March 1828 – 4 April 1870), often known by his bardic name of Glasynys, was a Welsh clergyman, folklorist, poet, novelist and short-story writer. Life Owen Wynne Jones was born at a house called Ty'n-y-ffrwd, in the vil ...

**''Fy Oriau Hamddenol'' (1854) **''Dafydd Llwyd'' (1857) **''Lleucu Llwyd'' (1858) * Robert Parry (Robyn Ddu Eryri) — ''Teithiau a Barddoniaeth Robyn Ddu Eryri'' (1857) *

William Rees (Gwilym Hiraethog) William Rees (8 November 1802 – 8 November 1883), usually known in Wales by his bardic name of Gwilym Hiraethog, was a Welsh poet and author, one of the major figures of Welsh literature during the 19th century. Gwilym Hiraethog took ...

**''Aelwyd F'Ewythr Robert'' (1852) **''Gweithiau Barddonol Gwilym Hiraethog'' (1855) *

William Thomas (Islwyn) William Thomas, bardic name A bardic name (, ) is a pseudonym used in Wales, Cornwall, or Brittany by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement. The Welsh term bardd ("poet") originally referred to the Welsh ...

— ''Barddoniaeth'' (1854) *

William Thomas (Gwilym Marles) William Thomas (1834 – 11 December 1879), better known by his bardic name of Gwilym Marles, was a Welsh minister and poet, and the great-uncle of Dylan Thomas. Dylan was given his middle name, "Marlais", in honour of William Thomas, who is ...

— ''Prydyddiaeth'' (1859) * Morris Williams (Nicander) — ''Y Psalmwyr'' (1850) *

William Williams (Creuddynfab) William Williams (1814–69), also known by the bardic name Creuddynfab, was a Welsh poet and literary critic. Biography Creuddynfab was born 20 August 1814 at Tŷ Du on the Creuddyn peninsula, and as the eldest child of stone mason Enoch ...

— ''Y Barddoniadur'' (1855)

Music

*''Y Blwch Cerddorol'' (collection of hymns and anthems) (1854) * Thomas Jones (Gogrynwr) — ''Gweddi Habacuc'' (cantata) (1851) * J. Ambrose Lloyd — ''Teyrnasoedd y Ddaear'' (1852) *

Edward Stephen Edward Jones Stephen (also ''Stephens''; December 1822 – 10 May 1885), often known by his bardic name of Tanymarian, was a Welsh musician, singer and composer, mainly of hymns and songs. He was born in Maentwrog, Merionethshire, into a music ...

(Tanymarian) — ''Ystorm Tiberias'' (oratorio) (1852) *January 1856 — The Welsh national anthem, '' Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau'', is composed by

James James James James (also known by the bardic name ''Iago ap Ieuan'') (1832–1902) was a harpist and musician from Hollybush, Blackwood, Wales. He composed the tune of the Welsh national anthem ''Hen Wlad fy Nhadau'' (also known as ''Land of my Fathe ...

with lyrics by his father Evan James.

Births

*1850 **

4 January Events Pre-1600 *46 BC – Julius Caesar fights Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina. * 871 – Battle of Reading: Æthelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred are defeated by a Danish invasion army. 1601–1900 *1649 – Engli ...

—

Griffith J. Griffith Griffith Jenkins Griffith (January 4, 1850 – July 6, 1919) was a Welsh-born American industrialist and philanthropist. After amassing a significant fortune from a mining syndicate in the 1880s, Griffith donated to the City of Los Angeles whic ...

, industrialist (died 1919) **

16 April Events Pre-1600 * 1457 BC – Battle of Megido - the first battle to have been recorded in what is accepted as relatively reliable detail. * 69 – Defeated by Vitellius' troops at Bedriacum, Otho commits suicide. * 73 – Masada ...

—

Sidney Gilchrist Thomas Sidney Gilchrist Thomas (16 April 1850 – 1 February 1885) was an English inventor, best known for his role in the iron and steel industry. Life Thomas was born at Canonbury, London, and was educated at Dulwich College. His father, a Welshman, w ...

, inventor (died 1885) *1851 **

24 March Events Pre-1600 *1199 – King Richard I of England is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting in France, leading to his death on April 6. *1387 – English victory over a Franco- Castilian-Flemish fleet in the Battle of Margate off ...

— Robert Ambrose Jones (Emrys ap Iwan) (d. 1906) ** 8 July — Sir Arthur Evans, archaeologist (d. 1941) **

27 December Events Pre-1600 * 537 – The second Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is consecrated. *1512 – The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regard to Indigenous peoples of the Americas, native Indi ...

—

Percy Gilchrist Percy Carlyle Gilchrist FRS (27 December 1851 – 16 December 1935) was a British chemist and metallurgist. Life Gilchrist was born in Lyme Regis, Dorset, the son of Alexander and Anne Gilchrist and studied at Felsted and the Royal School of ...

, industrialist **''date unknown'' —

Elizabeth Phillips Hughes Elizabeth Phillips Hughes MBE (12 July 1851 – 19 December 1925) was a Welsh scholar, teacher, and promoter of women's education, first principal of the Cambridge Training College for Women. Early life Hughes was born in Carmarthen, Carma ...

, promoter of women's education (died 1925) *1852 **

20 March Events Pre-1600 * 673 – Emperor Tenmu of Japan assumes the Chrysanthemum Throne at the Palace of Kiyomihara in Asuka. * 1206 – Michael IV Autoreianos is appointed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. *1600 – The Linkö ...

—

John Gwenogvryn Evans John Gwenogvryn Evans (20 March 1852 – 25 March 1930) was a Welsh palaeographic expert and literary translator. Early life Evans was born at Llanybydder in Carmarthenshire. He was apprenticed to a grocer, but returned to school, one of his teac ...

, palaeographer (died 1930) **

26 April Events Pre-1600 * 1336 – Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) ascends Mont Ventoux. *1348 – Czech king Karel IV founds the Charles University in Prague, which was later named after him and was the first university in Central Europe. * 1 ...

— William Eilir Evans, journalist (died 1910) **

28 April Events Pre-1600 * 224 – The Battle of Hormozdgan is fought. Ardashir I defeats and kills Artabanus V effectively ending the Parthian Empire. * 357 – Emperor Constantius II enters Rome for the first time to celebrate his victory ...

—

Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet (28 April 1852 – 10 May 1927), commonly known as Frank Edwards, was a British Liberal Party politician. Sir Francis, the fourth son of Edward Edwards of Llangollen, was educated at Shrewsbury School and Jesus ...

, Liberal politician (died 1927) **

11 May Events 1601–1900 *1812 – Prime Minister Spencer Perceval is assassinated by John Bellingham in the lobby of the British House of Commons. *1813 – William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth discover a route across th ...

— Sir David Saunders Davies, MP (died 1934) **

25 November Events Pre-1600 *571 BC – Servius Tullius, king of Rome, celebrates the first of his three triumphs for his victory over the Etruscans. * 1034 – Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Scots, dies. His grandson, Donnchad, son of Beth� ...

— Sir Evan Vincent Evans, Eisteddfod supporter (died 1934) **December —

Alice Gray Jones Alice Gray Jones ( Jones; December 1852 – 17 April 1943), Order of the British Empire, OBE was a Welsh people, Welsh writer and editor, known by the pseudonym Ceridwen Peris (referencing Saint Peris, the origin of placenames from her nativ ...

(Ceridwen Peris), writer (died 1943) *1855 **''date unknown'' —

Jeremiah Jones Jeremiah "Jerry" Alvin Jones (March 30, 1858 - November 23, 1950) was a Black Canadian soldier who served in World War I. He was recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal but there is no record of him having received it. His treatment has bee ...

, poet (died 1902) *1856 **

26 March Events Pre-1600 * 590 – Emperor Maurice proclaims his son Theodosius as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. * 1021 – On the feast of Eid al-Adha, the death of the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, kept secret for six weeks, is ...

—

David Alfred Thomas David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda, PC (26 March 1856 – 3 July 1918), was a Welsh industrialist and Liberal politician. He was UK Member of Parliament (MP) for Merthyr Tydfil from 1888 until the January 1910 general election, then M ...

, politician (died 1918) *1858 **

28 January Events Pre-1600 * 98 – On the death of Nerva, Trajan is declared Roman emperor in Cologne, the seat of his government in lower Germany. * 814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession of ...

—

Edgeworth David Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth David (28 January 1858 – 28 August 1934) was a Welsh Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer. A household name in his lifetime, David's most significant achievements were discovering the major Hunter V ...

, explorer (died 1934) **

28 December Events Pre-1600 * 418 – A papal conclave begins, resulting in the election of Pope Boniface I. * 457 – Majorian is acclaimed as Western Roman Empire, Western Roman emperor. * 484 – Alaric II succeeds his father Euric and beco ...

—

Josiah Towyn Jones Josiah Towyn Jones (28 December 1858 – 16 November 1925) was a Welsh clergyman and Liberal Party politician. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Carmarthenshire East and later for Llanelli. He was born in New Quay, Cardiganshire, and b ...

, politician *1859 **

16 February Events Pre-1600 *1249 – Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khagan of the Mongol Empire. *1270 – Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeats the Livonian Order in the Battle of Kar ...

—

T. E. Ellis Thomas Edward Ellis (16 February 1859 – 5 April 1899), often known as T. E. Ellis or Tom Ellis, was a Welsh politician who was the leader of Cymru Fydd, a movement aimed at gaining home rule for Wales. Ellis was, for a time, the most pr ...

, politician (died 1899) **

17 July Events Pre-1600 * 180 – Twelve inhabitants of Scillium (near Kasserine, modern-day Tunisia) in North Africa are executed for being Christians. This is the earliest record of Christianity in that part of the world. * 1048 – Damasu ...

—

Ernest Rhys Ernest Percival Rhys ( ; 17 July 1859 – 25 May 1946) was a Welsh-English writer, best known for his role as founding editor of the Everyman's Library series of affordable classics. He wrote essays, stories, poetry, novels and plays. Early life ...

, writer (died 1946)

Deaths

*1850 **

2 September Events Pre-1600 *44 BC – Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. * 44 BC – Cicero launches the first of his ''Philippicae'' (oratorical attacks) on Mark Antony. He will make 14 of them ...

— Charles Williams-Wynn, politician (born 1775) *1851 ** 6 April — William Morgan Kinsey, travel writer (born 1788) **

30 June Events Pre-1600 * 296 – Pope Marcellinus begins his papacy. * 763 – The Byzantine army of emperor Constantine V defeats the Bulgarian forces in the Battle of Anchialus. * 1422 – Battle of Arbedo between the duke of Milan an ...

—

Thomas Phillips Thomas Phillips RA (18 October 177020 April 1845) was a leading English portrait and subject painter. He painted many of the great men of the day including scientists, artists, writers, poets and explorers. Life and work Phillips was born at ...

, founder of Llandovery College (born 1760) *1852 **

23 February Events Pre-1600 * 303 – Roman emperor Diocletian orders the destruction of the Christian church in Nicomedia, beginning eight years of Diocletianic Persecution. * 532 – Byzantine emperor Justinian I lays the foundation stone of a ...

—

Evan Jones (Ieuan Gwynedd) Evan Jones (5 September 1820 – 23 February 1852), also known by his bardic name Ieuan Gwynedd, was an independent minister and journalist. Jones is chiefly remembered for his defence of women following the damning insinuations made in the Repo ...

, minister and journalist, 31 **

2 May Events Pre-1600 *1194 – King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. *1230 – William de Braose is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great. *1536 – Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, is arrested and imprison ...

— John Jones (Ioan Tegid), poet (born 1792) **

26 November Events Pre-1600 * 783 – The Asturian queen Adosinda is held at a monastery to prevent her king from retaking the throne from Mauregatus. *1161 – Battle of Caishi: A Song dynasty fleet fights a naval engagement with Jin dynasty ...

—

John Josiah Guest Sir Josiah John Guest, 1st Baronet (2 February 1785 – 26 November 1852), known as John Josiah Guest, was a Welsh engineer, entrepreneur and politician. Early life Guest was born on 2 February 1785 in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. He wa ...

, engineer, entrepreneur and politician, 77 *1853 **''date unknown'' — William Roberts, preacher (b. 1809) *1854 **

3 April Events Pre-1600 * 686 – Maya king Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk' assumes the crown of Calakmul. * 1043 – Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. * 1077 – The Patriarchate of Friûl, the first Friulian state, is created ...

—

Edward Lloyd, 1st Baron Mostyn Edward Pryce Lloyd, 1st Baron Mostyn (17 September 1768 – 3 April 1854), known as Sir Edward Lloyd, 2nd Baronet from 1795 to 1831, was a British politician. Life He was born the son of Bell Lloyd of Pontryffyd and Bodfach and succeeded his unc ...

, politician (born 1768) **

29 April Events Pre-1600 *1091 – Battle of Levounion: The Pechenegs are defeated by Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. * 1386 – Battle of the Vikhra River: The Principality of Smolensk is defeated by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and beco ...

—

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 ...

, soldier and politician (born 1768) *1855 **

28 June Events Pre-1600 * 1098 – Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul at the battle of Antioch. * 1360 – Muhammed VI becomes the tenth Nasrid king of Granada after killing his brother-in-law Ismail II. * 1461 – ...

—

FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan Field Marshal FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, (30 September 1788 – 28 June 1855), known before 1852 as Lord FitzRoy Somerset, was a British Army officer. When a junior officer, he served in the Peninsular War and the Waterloo ...

(born 1788) **''date unknown'' **

Sir John Morris, 1st Baronet Sir John Morris, 1st Baronet (15 July 1745 – 25 June 1819), was a British industrialist, active in copper-smelting and coal-mining in Swansea, South Wales. Biography Early life John Morris was born on 15 July 1745. He was the son of Robert Mor ...

, industrialist **

John Henry Vivian John Henry Vivian Royal Society, FRS (9 August 1785 – 10 February 1855) was a Welsh people, Welsh industrialist and politician of Cornwall, Cornish wikt:extraction, extraction. He was a member of the Vivian family (British Isles), Vivian fami ...

, industrialist (born 1785) *1857 **

10 February Events Pre-1600 *1258 – Mongol invasions and conquests, Mongol invasions: Siege of Baghdad (1258), Baghdad falls to the Mongols, bringing the Islamic Golden Age to an end. *1306 – In front of the high altar of Greyfriars Church in ...

— David Thompson, explorer (born to Welsh parents 1770) **

12 August Events Pre-1600 *1099 – First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid Caliphate, Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade. ...

—

William Daniel Conybeare William Daniel Conybeare FRS (7 June 178712 August 1857), dean of Llandaff, was an English geologist, palaeontologist and clergyman. He is probably best known for his ground-breaking work on fossils and excavation in the 1820s, including import ...

, dean of Llandaff (born 1787) **

16 August Events Pre-1600 * 1 BC – Wang Mang consolidates his power in China and is declared marshal of state. Emperor Ai of Han, who died the previous day, had no heirs. * 942 – Start of the four-day Battle of al-Mada'in, between the Hamd ...

—

John Jones, Talysarn John Jones, Talysarn (1 March 1796 – 16 August 1857), was a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist minister, regarded as one of the greatest preachers in the history of Wales. Because the name "John Jones" was one of the most common in Wales at the time ...

, leading non-conformist minister (born 1796) *1858 **

17 November Events Pre-1600 * 887 – Emperor Charles the Fat is deposed by the Frankish magnates in an assembly at Frankfurt, leading his nephew, Arnulf of Carinthia, to declare himself king of the East Frankish Kingdom in late November. *1183 &ndas ...

—

Robert Owen Robert Owen (; 14 May 1771 – 17 November 1858) was a Welsh textile manufacturer, philanthropist and social reformer, and a founder of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement. He strove to improve factory working conditions, promoted e ...

, founder of the Co-operative Society (born 1771) **

20 November Events Pre-1600 * 284 – Diocletian is chosen as Roman emperor. * 762 – During the An Shi Rebellion, the Tang dynasty, with the help of Uyghur Khaganate, Huihe tribe, recaptures Luoyang from the rebels. *1194 – Palermo is conq ...

—

Sir Joseph Bailey, 1st Baronet Sir Joseph Bailey, 1st Baronet (21 January 1783 – 20 November 1858), was an English ironmaster and Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP). Bailey was born in 1783 in Great Wenham, Suffolk, the son of John Bailey, of Wakefield and his wif ...

, ironmaster (born 1783) **

18 December Events Pre-1600 * 1271 – Kublai Khan renames his empire "Yuan" (元 yuán), officially marking the start of the Yuan dynasty of Mongolia and China. * 1499 – A rebellion breaks out in Alpujarras in response to the forced conversion ...

— John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury, nephew of

Hester Thrale Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi (née Salusbury; later Piozzi; 27 January 1741 or 16 January 1740 – 2 May 1821),Contemporary records, which used the Julian calendar and the Annunciation Style of enumerating years, recorded her birth as 16 January ...

(born 1793)