Frances Elizabeth Hoggan (née Morgan) - the first British woman to receive a doctorate in medicine from a European university and the first female doctor to be registered in Wales.

Frances Hoggan's  father was a curate and she was raised and educated in Cowbridge and Windsor.  She obtained her doctorate from  Zurich University in 1870, after which, she married Dr George Hoggan and the couple then operated the first husband-and-wife medical practice in the UK.  Francis was also an active campaigner for social reform, particularly involved in racial issues.

On 20th December 1955, Cardiff was proclaimed the capital of Wales. 

* The Romans settled in Cardiff in 55 AD and built a military fort on the site of Cardiff Castle.

* Llandaff Cathedral stands on one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain and dates back to 1107.

* Cardiff is home to the world’s oldest record store – Spillers, which opened in 1894.

* The world’s first £1 million cheque was signed in Cardiff’s coal exchange in 1904.

* In 1910, Captain Scott left from Cardiff for his ill-fated journey to the South Pole.

* Cardiff was designated as the world's first Fair Trade Capital City.

* Cardiff has a population of 346,000 and attracts more than 18 million visitors a year. 

* Four of Cardiff’s  buildings have won prestigious RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) awards – Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff Met University’s School of Management, Chapter Arts Centre & Cardiff Central Library.

* Cardiff was the European Capital of Sport for 2014.

* The National Museum in Cardiff is home to one of the best Impressionist art collections outside Paris, boasting works by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Cézanne.  

Born on this day 1912 in Bridgend. 

Sir Morien Bedford Morgan -  "The Father Of Concorde"

Morgan became interested in aircraft, whilst studying at Cambridge University, after which he secured employment with the Royal Aircraft Establishment, before becoming the Controller of Aircraft within the Ministry of Aviation.

In 1948, he began researching the possibility of a supersonic passenger airliner and in 1956 when Chairman of the Supersonic Transport Aircraft Committee, selected the Bristol 223 as the basis for the design of what would ultimately become Concorde.  

 Born on this day 1976 in Newport. 

Adam James Powell - game designer and businessman, who with his wife Donna founded Neopets and Meteor Games. 

Born on this day 1792, near Llangadog, Carmarthenshire.

David Griffiths, who was a missionary in Madagascar, who together with fellow Welsh missionary David Jones, from Cardiganshire, translated the first Bible to be printed in an African language.

Griffiths and his wife, Mary, were sent to Madagascar in 1821, by the London Missionary Society, where along with David Jones, founded the first Protestant mission in Madagascar, under the patronage of King Radama I.

They also translated the Bible, which was published in 1835.  However, following the king’s death, the new monarch, Queen Ranavalona I banned Christianity in 1835.  This led Griffiths to disguise himself as a trader, in order to help the persecuted Christians.

He returned to Wales in 1840 to become a pastor and published a history of Madagascar in Welsh,  as well as a Malagasy grammar in English.   

 Born on this day 1926 in Port Talbot

Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon former  Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons and Deputy Prime Minister, whose resignation speech in 1990 is widely considered to have precipitated Margaret Thatcher's downfall as Prime Minister three weeks later.