1808 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1808 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey – Henry Paget
• Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire – Henry Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort
• Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire – Thomas Bulkeley, 7th Viscount Bulkeley
• Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire – Thomas Johnes
• Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire – George Rice, 3rd Baron Dynevor
• Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire – Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 5th Baronet
• Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire – Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster
• Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan – John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute
• Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire - Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 5th Baronet
• Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire – Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis
• Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – Richard Philipps, 1st Baron Milford
• Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – George Rodney, 3rd Baron Rodney

• Bishop of Bangor – John Randolph
• Bishop of Llandaff – Richard Watson
• Bishop of St Asaph – William Cleaver
• Bishop of St Davids – Thomas Burgess

Events

• 5 January - The first issue of The North Wales Gazette is printed at Bangor.
• 20 September - The White Book of Hergest is destroyed in a fire at Covent Garden.
• 30 October - William Lort Mansel is consecrated Bishop of Bristol.
• 19 November - The naval frigate HMS Owen Glendower is launched.
• date unknown
• Construction of the Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee by Thomas Telford.
• The publishing house Gwasg Gee is founded.
• St Katherine's Church, Milford Haven, built by Charles Francis Greville, is consecrated.
• Benjamin Hall is given the Abercarn estate by his father-in-law, Richard Crawshay.
• The Ruabon Brook Tramway is extended from Acrefair to the Plas Madoc Colliery in Plasbennion.
• Twelve-year-old Charles Nice Davies goes to serve in India as an ensign.

Arts and literature

New books

English language

• Felicia Hemans - Juvenile Poems

Welsh language

• Robert Davies (Bardd Nantglyn) - Ieithiadur neu Ramadeg Cymraeg
• Thomas Edwards (Twm o'r Nant) - Bannau y Byd
• Titus Lewis - Llyfr Rhyfeddodau

Music

• Hymnau o Fawl i Dduw a'r Oen (hymns by Ann Griffiths, posthumously published)

Births

• 30 January - Sir John Henry Scourfield, author (died 1876)
• 6 March - William Williams (Carw Coch), man of letters and eisteddfodwr (died 1872)
• 13 May - Thomas Aubrey, Wesleyan leader (died 1867)
• date unknown
• Dic Penderyn, labourer executed for his part in the Merthyr Rising (died 1831)
• William Roos, artist and engraver (died 1878)

Deaths

• 21 January – Richard Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn, about 70
• 12 February – Anna Maria Bennett, novelist, about 70
• 12 September – Charles Herbert, Royal Navy officer, son of the Earl of Carnarvon, 34 (drowned)
• 30 November – Watkin Williams, politician, 66?
• 28 December – Griffith Roberts, physician and collector of manuscripts, 73

See also

• 1808 in Ireland

References