1738 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1738 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

 * Lord Lieutenant of North Wales (Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, Flintshire, Merionethshire, Montgomeryshire) – George Cholmondeley, 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley
 * Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan – Charles Powlett, 3rd Duke of Bolton
 * Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire and Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire – Thomas Morgan
 * Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire – John Vaughan, 2nd Viscount Lisburne
 * Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire – vacant until 1755
 * Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire – Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, 3rd Baronet
 * Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – Sir Arthur Owen, 3rd Baronet
 * Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
 * Bishop of Bangor – Thomas Herring (from 15 January)
 * Bishop of Llandaff – John Harris (until 28 August)
 * Bishop of St Asaph – Isaac Maddox
 * Bishop of St Davids – Nicholas Clagett

Events

 * March – Howel Harris preaches in Monmouthshire for the first time.
 * 14 May – John Wesley hears William Holland read from the work of Martin Luther, occasioning his own conversion.
 * May – The Bala Eisteddfod takes place, chaired by Edward Wynne. Ellis Cadwaladr is winner of the bardic chair.
 * unknown dates
 * A new building, designed by James Steer to house the Welsh Charity School is erected in London.
 * A Baptist church is founded at Welsh Neck in South Carolina, United States.
 * Morgan Edwards begins his career as a preacher.
 * Lawyer John Meredith is knighted and becomes High Sheriff of Brecknock.

English language

 * Anne Penny – Select Poems from Mr. Gesner's Pastorals

Welsh language

 * Newyddion Mawr Oddiwrth y Ser

Music

 * William Williams Pantycelyn – Caniadau … y Môr o Wydr

Births

 * 4 June – Prince George, eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales (died 1820)
 * September (in Ireland) – Francis Mathew, 1st Earl Landaff (died 1806)
 * date unknown – David Williams, philosopher (died 1816)

Deaths

 * January – Thomas Harley (of Kinsham), former MP for Radnorshire, about 63
 * 12 June – Samuel Edwards, politician, about 70
 * 28 August – John Harris, Bishop of Llandaff, 58
 * 1 September – Mathias Maurice, minister and author, 54
 * 27 September – Sir Thomas Stradling, 6th Baronet, 28 (in a duel)