1865 in Wales-The Daily Ledger

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1865 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey – Henry Paget, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey

Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire – John Lloyd Vaughan Watkins (until 28 September) George Pratt, 2nd Marquess Camden (from 4 November) Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire – Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley, 10th Baronet Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire – Edward Pryse Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire – John Campbell, 2nd Earl Cawdor Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire – Robert Myddelton Biddulph Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire – Sir Stephen Glynne, 9th Baronet Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan – Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire – Edward Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire – Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire – Sudeley Hanbury-Tracy, 3rd Baron Sudeley Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – William Edwardes, 3rd Baron Kensington Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – John Walsh, 1st Baron Ormathwaite Bishop of Bangor – James Colquhoun Campbell Bishop of Llandaff – Alfred Ollivant Bishop of St Asaph – Thomas Vowler Short Bishop of St Davids – Connop Thirlwall

1865 in Wales

Events

5 January — The Festiniog Railway officially opens to passengers, the first narrow gauge railway in the British Isles to do so. 14 January — American Confederate paddle steamer Lelia sinks off the north Wales coast with the loss of eighteen lives. 1 February — The Vale of Neath Railway is amalgamated with the Great Western Railway. 14 April Opening of the Royal Pier, Aberystwyth, built by Eugenius Birch at a cost of £13,600. Paddle steamer Great Empress collides with Beaumaris Pier. May Opening of Talyllyn Railway. A branch of The Philanthropic Order of True Ivorites Friendly Society is established and registered at Colwinston. 28 May — The Mimosa sets sail with emigrants for Patagonia. 10 June — Opening of Penarth Dock. 3 July — Opening of Barmouth Junction on the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway. 28 July — The town of Puerto Madryn and the Patagonian colony is founded by Michael D. Jones. 2 August — The Wales memorial to the late Prince Albert at Tenby, sculpted by John Evan Thomas, is unveiled by Albert and Victoria's 3rd son, 15-year-old Prince Arthur on his first public engagement. 9 September — First of fifteen deaths in the only outbreak of yellow fever ever to occur in Britain, at Swansea. 21 October — Opening of Howells (department store) in Cardiff as a drapery. 29 November — Two men die when a coal train falls into the North Dock at Swansea. 1 December — Llandrindod Wells is linked to the rail network for the first time. 20 December — Gethin Pit disaster, Abercanaid: the second of two firedamp explosions at this colliery near Merthyr Tydfil kills 34 miners. Francis Kilvert becomes curate of Clyro in Radnorshire. Sale of the Pwyllycrochan estate, leading to the development of Colwyn Bay. John Crichton-Stuart, Marquess of Bute, meets architect and designer William Burges. Robert Jones Derfel retires from the ministry and sets up a Welsh bookshop and press in Manchester.

1865 in Wales

Arts and literature

Awards

National Eisteddfod of Wales is held at Aberystwyth. The chair is won by Lewis William Lewis (Llew Llwyfo).

1865 in Wales

New books

Morris Davies — Cofiant Ann Griffiths

John Evans (I. D. Ffraid) — Coll Gwynfa (translation of Milton's Paradise Lost) John Ceiriog Hughes — Y Bardd a'r Cerddor John Jones (Mathetes) — Pregeth i Fyfyrwyr Coleg Hwlffordd ... John Thomas (Ifor Cwmgwys) — Diferion Meddyliol