This article is about the particular significance of the year 1880 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Clwydfardd
Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey – William Owen Stanley Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire – Joseph Bailey, 1st Baron Glanusk Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire – Edward Douglas-Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire – Edward Pryse Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire – John Campbell, 2nd Earl Cawdor Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire – William Cornwallis-West Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire – Hugh Robert Hughes Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan – Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire – Edward Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire – Henry Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire – Edward Herbert, 3rd Earl of Powis Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – William Edwardes, 4th Baron Kensington Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – Arthur Walsh, 2nd Baron Ormathwaite
Bishop of Bangor – James Colquhoun Campbell Bishop of Llandaff – Alfred Ollivant Bishop of St Asaph – Joshua Hughes Bishop of St Davids – Basil Jones
Events 25 February – The Resurgam, an early mechanically-powered submarine, sinks off Rhyl. 10 March – Six miners are killed in an accident at the Bedwellty Colliery, Tredegar. 29 April – At the United Kingdom general election, Wales elects 28 Liberal MPs. David Davies, Llandinam, is returned unopposed as member for Cardigan. 17 June – The rebuilt Holyhead railway station and inner harbour are officially opened by the Prince of Wales. 15 July – 120 miners are killed in an accident at the Risca Colliery. 3 August – Nine miners are killed in an accident at the Bersham Colliery in Wrexham. 10 December – 101 miners are killed in an accident at the Penygraig Colliery, Rhondda.
Arts and literature Beriah Gwynfe Evans – Owain Glyndwr, one of the first full-length plays in the Welsh language, is first performed at Llanberis.
Awards National Eisteddfod of Wales held at Caernarfon (first "official" National Eisteddfod) Chair – W. B. Joseph, "Athrilyth" Crown – Ellis Roberts (Elis Wyn o Wyrfai)
New books Sir William Boyd Dawkins – Early Man in Britain and his place in the Tertiary Period Amy Dillwyn – The Rebecca Rioter
Music Joseph Parry – Emmanuel (cantata)
Sport Football – The Druids of Rhiwabon win the Welsh Cup for the first time. Rugby union – Cwmbran RFC and Crumlin RFC are founded. Yachting – Penarth Yacht Club is founded as Penarth Boat Club.
Births 31 January – Phil Hopkins, Wales international rugby player (died 1966) 12 February – William Joseph Rhys, writer (died 1967) 17 March – Harry Grindell Matthews, inventor (died 1941) 8 April – Thomas Thomas, boxing champion (died 1911) 19 April – Jack Jenkins, Wales international rugby player (died 1971) 30 April – George Maitland Lloyd Davies, pacifist (died 1949) 9 May – Thomas Scott-Ellis, 8th Baron Howard de Walden, patron of the arts (died 1946) 11 May – David Davies, 1st Baron Davies, politician (died 1944) 22 May Dr Teddy Morgan, Wales international rugby player (died 1947) Robert John Rowlands ('Meuryn'), journalist and poet (died 1967) 31 May – Edward Tegla Davies, author (died 1967) 22 June – Rhys Gabe, rugby player (died 1967) 27 July – Percy Baker, gymnast (died 1957) 2 September – Isaac Daniel Hooson, poet (died 1948) 15 September – William Charles Williams, VC recipient (died 1915) 20 September – Ernie Jenkins, Wales international rugby player (died 1958)
Deaths 6 January – John Thomas ('Minimus'), minister and author, 71 12 February – John Whitehead Greaves, slate mine proprietor, 72 2 March – Charles Meredith, Tasmanian politician, 68 12 April – Thomas Joseph Brown, Roman Catholic bishop, 81 23 April – Robert Thomas ('Ap Vychan'), minister and writer, 70 10 May – David Charles II, hymn-writer, 76? 21 August – Evan Mathew Richards, politician, 68 30 August – Mordecai Jones, industrialist, 67 9 September – William Watkin Edward Wynne, politician and antiquarian, 78
See also 1880 in Ireland
References