1871 in Wales

← 1870 1869 1868 1871 in Wales → 1872 1873 1874
Centuries:	17th 18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1850s 1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s
See also:	List of years in Wales 1871 in The United Kingdom Ireland Scotland

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1871 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales — The Prince Albert Edward, son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
• Princess of Wales — Alexandra of Denmark

Events

• 24 February — In a mining accident at Pentre Colliery, Rhondda, 38 men are killed.
• 21 March — Welsh-born journalist Henry Morton Stanley sets out for Africa to seek missing Scottish explorer and missionary Dr. David Livingstone.
• June — Miners' strike in South Wales culminates in defeat for the union.
• 10 November — Stanley locates Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika, and allegedly greets him saying "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
• Lewis Jones is appointed governor of Chubut Province by the government of Argentina.
• David Davies Llandinam constructs a railway from Caersws to the Van lead mines.
• Henry Hussey Vivian opens the White Rock lead treatment works in Swansea.

Arts and literature

Awards

• Evan Jones (Gurnos) wins a bardic chair at Ystradyfodwg.

New books

• W. R. Ambrose — Hynafiaethau, Cofiannau a Hanes Presennol Nant Nantlle, y Traethawd Buddugol yn Eisteddfod Gadeiriol Pen-y-groes
• Robert Fowler, MD — A Complete History of the Case of the Welsh Fasting-Girl
• James Kenward — Ab Ithel

Music

• John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia) is appointed harpist to Queen Victoria.

Sport

• Rugby union — Neath RFC is founded.

Births

• 5 January — Percy Lloyd, Wales national rugby player (died 1959)
• 23 February — Jack Evans, Wales national rugby player (died 1924)
• 2 March — Billy Bancroft, sportsman (died 1959)
• 28 March — Silyn Roberts, Socialist and pacifist writer (died 1930)
• 1 April - Dai St. John, heavyweight boxer (died 1899)
• 6 April — Prince Alexander John of Wales, youngest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales (died 1871)
• 12 April — Ellis William Davies, politician (died 1939)
• 15 April — John Humphreys Davies, writer (died 1926)
• 11 May — George Howells, academic and writer (died 1955)
• 6 June — Evan Lloyd, Wales international rugby player (died 1951)
• 14 June — David Nicholl, rugby player (died 1918)
• July - Owen Jones, footballer (died 1955)
• 2 July — Sir Evan Williams, 1st Baronet, industrialist (died 1959)
• 3 July — W. H. Davies, poet (died 1940)
• 13 August — Jack Elliott, Wales international rugby player (died 1938)
• 21 September — Alfred Brice, Wales international rugby player (died 1938)
• 1 October — Sir Lewis Lougher, industrialist and politician (died 1955)
• 10 October — Thomas Gwynn Jones, poet (died 1949)
• 3 November — Owen Badger, Wales national rugby player (died 1939)
• 27 November — Robert Evans (Cybi), writer (died 1956)
• 1 December — Bert Dauncey, Wales international rugby player (died 1955)
• 3 December — Sir Percy Emerson Watkins, civil servant (died 1946)
• date unknown
  • William Jenkins, politician (died 1944)
  • Howard Passadoro, footballer (died 1921)
  • Thomas Mardy Rees, historian and author (died 1953)

Deaths

• 19 January — Thomas Jeremy Griffiths, minister, hymn-writer and teacher
• 30 January — Edward Howell, US politician of Welsh descent, 78
• 2 August — David James (Dewi o Ddyfed), writer (born 1803)
• 6 October — Edwin Wyndham-Quin, 3rd Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl, 59