1885 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1885 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

*Prince of Wales - Edward Albert, son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
*Princess of Wales - Alexandra of Denmark
*Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales - Clwydfardd

Events

*24 November - The United Kingdom general election is the first in which the Liberal Party has a candidate in every Welsh constituency. The Liberals win 30 of the 34 available seats.
*24 December - 81 miners are killed in an accident at the Maerdy Colliery, Rhondda.
*The world's first passenger-carrying ropeway comes into use over the River Aeron at Aberaeron.
*Opening of steelworks at Brymbo.
*By order of the Admiralty, only Welsh coal is to be used on ships of the Royal Navy.
*Three people are killed when fire breaks out at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
*Frances Hoggan is the first woman doctor registered in Wales.
*Opening of the first local authority secondary school in Cardiff.
*Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the constituencies of Denbighshire, Glamorganshire, North and South Monmouthshire are among those disestablished.

Arts and literature

Awards

National Eisteddfod of Wales - held at Aberdare
*Chair - Watkin Hezekiah Williams
*Crown - Griffith Tecwyn Parry

New books

*Daniel James (Gwyrosydd) - "Caneuon Gwyrosydd"
*Daniel Owen - "Rhys Lewis"

Music

*

port

*Football - Druids win the Welsh Cup for the fourth time in its eight-year history.
*Rugby union - Cross Keys RFC, London Welsh RFC, Neyland RFC and Risca RFC are founded.

Births

*21 May - William Dowell, Welsh dual-code rugby player (died 1949)
*26 June - David John Williams, politician (died 1970)
*2 August - Clarence Bruce, 3rd Baron Aberdare (died 1957)
*15 August - Ivor Morgan, Welsh international rugby union player (died 1943)
*5 September - Jenkin Alban Davies, Welsh international rugby captain (died 1976)
*21 November - Robert Evans, footballer (died 1965)
*"date unknown"
**Ernest Evans, politician (died 1965)

Deaths

*1 May - Henry Brinley Richards, composer, 67
*10 May - Edward Stephen, composer, 62
*1 August - Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, inventor, 34