1849 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1849 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

 * Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey – Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey
 * Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire – John Lloyd Vaughan Watkins
 * Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire – Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby
 * Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire – William Edward Powell
 * Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire – George Rice, 3rd Baron Dynevor
 * Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire – Robert Myddelton Biddulph
 * Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire – Sir Stephen Glynne, 9th Baronet
 * Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan – Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (from 4 May)
 * Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire – Edward Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn
 * Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire – Capel Hanbury Leigh
 * Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire – Charles Hanbury-Tracy, 1st Baron Sudeley
 * Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire – Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet
 * Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire – John Walsh, 1st Baron Ormathwaite


 * Bishop of Bangor – Christopher Bethell
 * Bishop of Llandaff – Edward Copleston (until 14 October); Alfred Ollivant (from 2 December)
 * Bishop of St Asaph – Thomas Vowler Short
 * Bishop of St Davids – Connop Thirlwall

Events

 * 2 January – Completion of both tubes of Robert Stephenson's Conwy Railway Bridge.
 * 26 February – Halkyn-born Mormon missionary Dan Jones embarks with 249 Welsh converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bound for Salt Lake City from Liverpool.
 * 13 May – A case of cholera is recorded in Cardiff, the beginning of an outbreak that spreads to Merthyr, Dowlais and Aberdare, and kills 800 people.
 * 20 June – First tube of Robert Stephenson's Britannia Bridge is floated into position on the Menai Strait.
 * 10 August – Underground explosion at Lletty Shenkin colliery, Cwmbach, kills 52.
 * 1 November – Alfred Ollivant becomes Bishop of Llandaff.
 * 13 December – Foundation stone of Llandovery College is laid.
 * A temperance festival is held at Carmarthen.

Awards

 * David Griffith (Clwydfardd) is appointed official bard of the Aberffraw eisteddfod. Rowland Williams (Hwfa Môn) is also invested as a bard.

English language

 * Anne Beale – Traits and Stories of the Welsh Peasantry
 * Lady Charlotte Guest concludes publication of her translation into English of the Mabinogion
 * John Lloyd – The English Country Gentleman
 * Samuel Lewis – Topographical Dictionary of Wales
 * Thomas Stephens – The Literature of the Kymry

Welsh language

 * Robert Elis (Cynddelw) – Yr Adgyfodiad
 * Hugh Derfel Hughes – Y Gweithiwr Caniadgar
 * Rowland Hughes – Cyfarchiad Caredig i rai newydd ddychwelyd
 * John Jones (Talhaiarn) – Awdl y Greadigaeth

Music

 * Haleliwia (hymns)

Births

 * 2 May – Charles James Jackson, businessman and collector (d. 1923)

Deaths

 * 14 August – Edward Copleston, Bishop of Llandaff, 73
 * 16 September – Thomas Jones, missionary, 39
 * 2 October – James Davies, schoolmaster, 83
 * 2 November – Jacob Davies, missionary, 33
 * 5 December – Walter Davies (Gwallter Mechain), poet, 88