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.

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