1781 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1781 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

 * Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey - Sir Nicholas Bayly, 2nd Baronet
 * Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire – Charles Morgan of Dderw
 * Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire - Thomas Wynn (until 27 December); Thomas Bulkeley, 7th Viscount Bulkeley (from 27 December)
 * Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire – Wilmot Vaughan, 1st Earl of Lisburne
 * Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire – John Vaughan
 * Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire - Richard Myddelton
 * Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire - Sir Roger Mostyn, 5th Baronet
 * Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan – John Stuart, Lord Mountstuart
 * Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire - Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Baronet
 * Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire – George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis
 * Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – Sir Hugh Owen, 5th Baronet
 * Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – Edward Harley, 4th Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer


 * Bishop of Bangor – John Moore
 * Bishop of Llandaff – Shute Barrington
 * Bishop of St Asaph – Jonathan Shipley
 * Bishop of St Davids – John Warren

Events

 * June - The Chancery court agrees the sale of the Kinmel estate to a London buyer.
 * Richard Price is made an honorary LL.D. by Yale University, in the company of George Washington.

New books

 * Thomas Pennant - Tours in Wales, volume 2

Music

 * John Parry (harpist) - British Harmony, being a Collection of Antient Welsh Airs

Births

 * 11 March (baptised) - Lucy Thomas, colliery owner ('The Mother of the Welsh Steam Coal Trade') (d. 1847)
 * ?November - William Williams of Wern, Independent minister (d. 1840)

Deaths

 * 4 April - Henry Thrale, brewer, 556-57
 * 7 May - Sir William Owen, 4th Baronet of Orielton, politician, 84
 * 12 October - David Powell (Dewi Nantbrân), Franciscan friar and author