1865 in Wales

Centuries:	17th; 18th; 19th; 20th; 21st;
Decades:	1840s; 1850s; 1860s; 1870s; 1880s;
See also:	List of years in Wales; 1865 in The United Kingdom Ireland Scotland

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1865 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

5 January — The Festiniog Railway officially opens to passengers, the first narrow gauge railway in the British Isles to do so.^[1]
14 January — An American Confederate paddle steamer, Lelia, sinks off the north Wales coast, with the loss of eighteen lives.
1 February — The Vale of Neath Railway is amalgamated with the Great Western Railway.
14 April — Opening of the Royal Pier, Aberystwyth, built by Eugenius Birch at a cost of £13,600.
May
- Opening of Talyllyn Railway.^[2]
- A branch of The Philanthropic Order of True Ivorites Friendly Society is established and registered at Colwinston.^[3]
28 May — The Mimosa sets sail with emigrants for Patagonia.^[4]
10 June — Opening of Penarth dock.
3 July — Opening of Barmouth Junction on the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway.
28 July — The town of Puerto Madryn and the Patagonian colony is founded by Michael D. Jones.^[5]
29 November — Two men die when a coal train falls into the North Dock at Swansea.
1 December — Llandrindod Wells is linked to the rail network for the first time.^[6]
The only outbreak of yellow fever ever to occur in Britain kills fifteen people in Swansea.
Francis Kilvert becomes curate of Clyro in Radnorshire.
Sale of the Pwyllycrochan estate, leading to the development of Colwyn Bay.
John Crichton-Stuart, Marquess of Bute, meets architect and designer William Burges.
Robert Jones Derfel retires from the ministry and sets up a Welsh bookshop and press in Manchester.

Morris Davies — Cofiant Ann Griffiths
John Evans (I. D. Ffraid) — Coll Gwynfa (translation of Milton's Paradise Lost)
John Ceiriog Hughes — Y Bardd a'r Cerddor
John Jones (Mathetes) — Pregeth i Fyfyrwyr Coleg Hwlffordd ...
John Thomas (Ifor Cwmgwys) — Diferion Meddyliol

Cricket
- 17 July — South Wales Cricket Club travels to Gravesend to play the Gentlemen of Kent.
- August — Morriston Cricket Club is founded.

2 February - Henry Davies, cricketer (died 1934)
28 February — Arthur Symons, poet and critic (died 1945)
7 March — Martyn Jordan, Wales international rugby player (died 1902)
30 April - Max Nettlau, German historian and Welsh learner (died 1944)
3 June — Prince George, second son of the Prince and Princess of Wales and himself Prince of Wales 1901–1910 (later King George V; died 1936)
6 August — Lewis Cobden Thomas, Wales international rugby player (died 1928)
22 August — Stephen Thomas Wales international rugby player (died 1937)
8 September - David Williams, Swansea politician (died 1941)
23 September — William Brace, politician (died 1947)
20 October — Sir Rhys Rhys-Williams, 1st Baronet, judge (died 1955)
26 October — Hugh Ingledew, Wales international rugby player (died 1937)
October - Jack Doughty, footballer (died 1937)
16 December - George Rowles, footballer (died 1922)
December - Richard Bagnall-Oakeley, Olympic archer (died 1947)
date unknown
- Dickie Garrett, rugby player (died 1908)
- Albert Hybart, rugby player (died 1945)
- George Owen, footballer (died 1922)
- Robert Roberts, footballer (died 1945)