1790 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1790 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

 * Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey - Henry Paget
 * Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire – Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort
 * Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire - Thomas Bulkeley, 7th Viscount Bulkeley
 * 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 - Watkin Williams
 * Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire – George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis
 * Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – Richard Philipps, 1st Baron Milford
 * Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – Edward Harley, 4th Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (until 11 October)


 * Bishop of Bangor – John Warren
 * Bishop of Llandaff – Richard Watson
 * Bishop of St Asaph – Samuel Hallifax (until 4 March); Lewis Bagot (from 28 April)
 * Bishop of St Davids – Samuel Horsley

Events

 * 18 May - The first meeting of the Literary Fund, founded by David Williams ("to assist indigent authors") takes place in London.
 * 9 June - Royal assent is given to establishment of the port of Milford Haven.
 * August - Construction of the Glamorganshire Canal begins.
 * exact date unknown
 * Sir Herbert Mackworth gives up the Parliamentary seat of Cardiff when John Stuart, Lord Mount Stuart, comes of age.
 * The world's first railway viaduct (used by horse-drawn wagons to carry coal from the mines) is built at Blaenavon.
 * Monmouth County Gaol is built.
 * Calvinistic Methodist clergyman Thomas Charles of Bala attempts to preach at Corwen but is driven out of town by a mob.
 * John Coles, son of the founder of the Cambrian Pottery, goes into partnership with entrepreneur George Haynes, resulting in the expansion of the business.

English language

 * Thomas Pennant - Indian Zoology
 * David Williams - Lessons to a Young Prince (published anonymously)

Welsh language

 * Thomas Edwards (Twm o'r Nant) - Gardd o Gerddi
 * Peter Williams - Tafol i Bwyso Sosiniaeth

Births

 * 27 January - William Davies Evans, mariner and chess player (died 1872)
 * 20 February (baptised) - Hugh Hughes, painter (died 1863)
 * 19 June - John Gibson, sculptor (died 1866)
 * July - James Williams, cleric and co-founder of the Anglesey Association of the Preservation of Lives from Shipwreck (died 1872)
 * 4 July - George Everest, surveyor and geographer (died 1866)
 * 11 August - William Probert, minister and author (died 1870)
 * 16 September - Thomas Vowler Short, Bishop of St Asaph (died 1872)
 * 27 September - Owen Jones Ellis Nanney (born Ellis Jones), MP (died 1870), father of Sir Hugh Ellis-Nanney
 * 29 September - John Jones, printer (died 1855)
 * 25 November - Sir James Hamlyn-Williams, 3rd Baronet, politician (died 1861)
 * probable - Thomas Penson (the younger), architect and surveyor (died 1859)

Deaths

 * 4 March - Samuel Hallifax, Bishop of St Asaph, 57
 * 20 March - Thomas Richards of Coychurch, cleric and lexicographer, 80
 * 24 August - John Worgan, organist and composer, 66
 * 11 October - Edward Harley, 4th Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire, 64
 * 16 October - Daniel Rowland, Methodist leader, c.79
 * 5 November - Michael Lort, clergyman, academic and antiquary, 65