This article is about the particular significance of the year 1885 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales The Prince Albert Edward, son of Queen Victoria
• Princess of Wales Alexandra of Denmark
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales Clwydfardd

Events

• 24 November The United Kingdom general election is the first in which the Liberal Party has a candidate in every Welsh constituency. The Liberals win 30 of the 34 available seats.
• 24 December 81 miners are killed in an accident at the Maerdy Colliery, Rhondda.
• The world's first passenger-carrying ropeway comes into use over the River Aeron at Aberaeron.
• Opening of steelworks at Brymbo.
• By order of the Admiralty, only Welsh coal is to be used on ships of the Royal Navy.
• Three people are killed when fire breaks out at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
• Frances Hoggan is the first woman doctor registered in Wales.
• Opening of the first local authority secondary school in Cardiff.
• Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the constituencies of Denbighshire, Glamorganshire, North and South Monmouthshire are among those disestablished.

Arts and literature

Awards

National Eisteddfod of Wales held at Aberdare

• Chair Watkin Hezekiah Williams
• Crown Griffith Tecwyn Parry

New books

• Daniel James (Gwyrosydd) Caneuon Gwyrosydd
• Daniel Owen Rhys Lewis

Music

Sport

• Football Druids win the Welsh Cup for the fourth time in its eight-year history.
• Rugby union
  • Cross Keys RFC, London Welsh RFC, Neyland RFC and Risca RFC are founded.
  • Arthur Gould plays his first international match for Wales.

Births

• 21 May William Dowell, Welsh dual-code rugby player (died 1949)
• 26 June David John Williams, writer and politician (died 1970)
• 2 August Clarence Bruce, 3rd Baron Aberdare (died 1957)
• 5 September Jenkin Alban Davies, Welsh international rugby captain (died 1976)
• 21 November Robert Evans, footballer (died 1965)
• date unknown
  • Ernest Evans, politician (died 1965)

Deaths

• 21 January John Gwyn Jeffreys, conchologist, 76
• 15 March Jane Williams (Ysgafell), writer, 79
• 1 May Henry Brinley Richards, composer, 67
• 10 May Edward Stephen, composer, 62
• 27 July Penry Williams, artist
• 1 August Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, inventor, 34
• 24 September Samuel Roberts, political and economic writer, 85