1871 in Wales

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales – Albert Edward
• Princess of Wales – Alexandra

  Events

• 24 February – In a mining accident at Pentre Colliery, Rhondda, 38 men are killed.
• 21 March – Welsh-born journalist Henry Morton Stanley sets out for Africa to seek missing Scottish explorer and missionary Dr. David Livingstone.
• June – Miners' strike in South Wales culminates in defeat for the union.
• 14 August – The Van Railway, built by David Davies Llandinam, opens to carry traffic from the Van lead mines to Caersws.
• 10 November – Stanley locates Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika, and allegedly greets him saying "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
• date unknown
• *Lewis Jones is appointed governor of Chubut Province by the government of Argentina.
• *Operations at the White Rock smelting works in Swansea are extended by Henry Hussey Vivian to include the treatment of silver and lead ore.

  Arts and literature

Awards

• Evan Jones wins a bardic chair at Ystradyfodwg.

  New books

• W. R. Ambrose – Hynafiaethau, Cofiannau a Hanes Presennol Nant Nantlle, y Traethawd Buddugol yn Eisteddfod Gadeiriol Pen-y-groes
• Robert Fowler, MD – A Complete History of the Case of the Welsh Fasting-Girl
• James Kenward – Ab Ithel

  Music

• John Thomas is appointed harpist to Queen Victoria.

  Sport

• Rugby union – Neath RFC is founded.

  Births

• 5 January – Percy Lloyd, Wales national rugby player
• 23 February – Jack Evans, Wales national rugby player
• 2 March – Billy Bancroft, sportsman
• 28 March – Silyn Roberts, Socialist and pacifist writer
• 1 April - Dai St. John, heavyweight boxer
• 6 April – Prince Alexander John of Wales, youngest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales
• 12 April – Ellis William Davies, politician
• 15 April – John Humphreys Davies, writer
• 11 May – George Howells, academic and writer
• 6 June – Evan Lloyd, Wales international rugby player
• 14 June – David Nicholl, rugby player
• July - Owen Jones, footballer
• 2 July – Sir Evan Williams, 1st Baronet, industrialist
• 3 July – W. H. Davies, poet
• 13 August – Jack Elliott, Wales international rugby player
• 21 September – Alfred Brice, Wales international rugby player
• 1 October – Sir Lewis Lougher, industrialist and politician
• 10 October – Thomas Gwynn Jones, poet
• 3 November – Owen Badger, Wales national rugby player
• 27 November – Robert Evans, writer
• 1 December – Bert Dauncey, Wales international rugby player
• 3 December – Sir Percy Emerson Watkins, civil servant
• date unknown
• *William Jenkins, politician
• *Howard Passadoro, footballer
• *Thomas Mardy Rees, historian and author

  Deaths

• 19 January – Thomas Jeremy Griffiths, minister, hymn-writer and teacher
• 30 January – Edward Howell, US politician of Welsh descent, 78
• February – Robert Roberts, musician, 30
• 23 July – Arthur James Johnes, judge, 62
• 2 August – David James, writer
• 6 October – Edwin Wyndham-Quin, 3rd Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl, 59