This article is about the particular significance of the year 1909 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Dyfed
Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey – Sir Richard Henry Williams-Bulkeley, 12th Baronet
Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire – Joseph Bailey, 2nd Baron Glanusk
Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire – John Ernest Greaves
Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire – Herbert Davies-Evans
Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire – Sir James Williams-Drummond, 4th Baronet
Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire – William Cornwallis-West
Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire – Hugh Robert Hughes
Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan – Robert Windsor-Clive, 1st Earl of Plymouth
Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire – W. R. M. Wynne (until 25 February); Sir Osmond Williams, 1st Baronet (from 22 March) Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire – Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire – Sir Herbert Williams-Wynn, 7th Baronet Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – Frederick Campbell, 3rd Earl Cawdor Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – Powlett Milbank
Bishop of Bangor – Watkin Williams
Bishop of Llandaff – Joshua Pritchard Hughes
Bishop of St Asaph – A. G. Edwards (later Archbishop of Wales) Bishop of St Davids – John Owen
Events
January – Noah Ablett is a founding member of the Plebs' League at Ruskin College, Oxford. 1 January – John Ballinger becomes first librarian of the National Library of Wales which is being set up in Aberystwyth, initially in temporary premises in the former Assembly Rooms. 16 January – Edgeworth David is a member of the expedition which successfully reaches the Magnetic South Pole. 2 July – Thirty-six men are killed when a trench collapses during construction of the Alexandra Dock part of Newport Docks. 26 July–7 August - The National Pageant of Wales is held at Cardiff Castle. 30 August – calls at Fishguard. October – Monthly rainfall of is measured at Llyn Llydaw, Snowdonia - a British record. 29 October – A mining accident at Darren Colliery, New Tredegar, kills 26 men. December – Thomas "Toya" Lewis is awarded the Albert Medal by Edward VII for his heroism in rescuing survivors of the Newport Dock collapse on 2 July. date unknown King's Dock, part of Swansea Docks, is opened. First coal raised from Penallta Colliery. The first mines rescue station in south Wales is opened at Aberaman. The Bryn Eglwys slate quarry, the Abergynolwyn estate and village and Talyllyn Railway are purchased by Henry Haydn Jones. Thomas Rees becomes principal of Bala-Bangor Theological College. Completion of Berw Bridge over the River Taff above Pontypridd, the longest reinforced concrete span in the U.K. at this date (); it is designed by L. G. Mouchel to Hennebique patents and built by Watkin Williams and Page. Clark's Pies originates in Cardiff.
Arts and literature
Awards
National Eisteddfod of Wales – held in London
Chair – T. Gwynn Jones, "Gwlad y Bryniau" Crown – W. J. Gruffydd, "Yr Arglwydd Rhys"
New books
English language
John Gwenogvryn Evans (ed.) – Facsimile of the Chirk Codex
Edward Thomas – The South Country
Arthur Wade-Evans – Welsh Mediaeval Law
Welsh language
Emrys ap Iwan – Homilïau vol. 2 (posthumous) Hugh Brython Hughes – Tair Cwpan Aur
Music
Evan Thomas Davies – Ynys y Plant
Sport
Boxing
23 August – Freddie Welsh wins the European lightweight title (at Mountain Ash). 8 November – Freddie Welsh wins the British lightweight title, and becomes the first boxer to be awarded a Lonsdale Belt (in London). 20 December – Thomas Thomas is awarded the first Lonsdale Belt at middleweight. Sport of athletics 23 August – Welshman Fred 'Tenby' Davies beats Irishman Bert Day to become world champion over the half-mile distance (at Pontypridd). Rugby league Aberdare RLFC, Barry RLFC and Mid-Rhondda RLFC fold after just one season. The first Welsh League competition is won by Ebbw Vale. Rugby union Wales win their second Grand Slam.