Great Britain - from 1707: 1707 - 2011

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Timeline: Great Britain - from 1707

Years: 1707 - 2011	Subject: History, Regional and National History
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191736261

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BCE CE

Year	Event
1707	The Act of Union merges England and Scotland as 'one kingdom by the name of Great Britain', a century after the union of the crowns Go to Union, Act of (Scotland) (1707) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Scotland British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1709	The Tatler launches a new style of journalism in Britain's coffee houses, followed two years later by the Spectator Go to Tatler in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain Abraham Darby at Coalbrookdale discovers the use of coke in the smelting of pig iron Go to Darby, Abraham (14 Apr 1678) in The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Technology Inventions and discoveries British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1710	Thomas Newcomen creates a piston steam engine, with the steam condensed in the cylinder by a jet of cold water Go to Newcomen, Thomas (1663–1729) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Steam Technology Engineering British Isles Europe Britain Christopher Wren's new domed St Paul's cathedral is completed in London Go to Wren, Christopher (1632–1723) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Baroque Britain 1500-1750 Architecture British architecture British Isles Europe Britain Machines are thrown out of the window of a Spitalfields factory, in an early protest against industrialization Go to Industrial Revolution in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Protest and rebellion Commerce and industry British Isles Europe Society Britain The Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian, ancestors of all thoroughbred racehorses, are imported into England Go to Byerley Turk in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Sports and games British Isles Europe Society Britain 25-year-old George Berkeley attacks Locke in his Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge Go to Berkeley, George (1685–1753) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature English literature Literature in English Philosophy British Isles Europe Britain
1711	Handel's success in London with his opera Rinaldo prompts him to settle in Britain Go to Handel, George Frideric (1685–1759) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Performing arts Music Opera British Isles Europe Britain
1712	Alexander Pope's Rape of the Lock introduces a delicate vein of mock-heroic in English poetry Go to Pope, Alexander (1688–1744) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Papacy British Isles Europe Britain
1714	On the death of Queen Anne, the Act of Settlement delivers the British crown to the elector of Hanover, as George I Go to George I (1660–1727) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Dynasties and royalty British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The British government offers a massive £20,000 prize for a chronometer capable of keeping accurate time at sea Go to chronometer noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Technology Inventions and discoveries British Isles Europe Britain
1715	A Jacobite uprising in Scotland on behalf of the Old Pretender ends in fiasco Go to Old Pretender, the in Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Protest and rebellion Scotland British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Colen Campbell creates interest in the Palladian style in Britain with the publication of his Vitruvius Britannicus Go to Palladianism in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Architecture British architecture British Isles Europe Britain
1717	The earl of Burlington employs Colen Campbell to remodel his Piccadilly house in the Palladian style Go to Palladianism in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Architecture British architecture British Isles Europe Britain
1719	Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, with its detailed realism, can be seen as the first English novel Go to Robinson Crusoe in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction British Isles Europe Britain
1720	Shares in the South Sea Company rise rapidly and collapse within the year, in the so-called South Sea Bubble Go to South Sea Bubble in A Dictionary of Finance and Banking (4 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Commerce and industry British Isles Europe Society Britain
1721	Robert Walpole becomes Britain's chief minister and holds the post for an unrivalled span of twenty-one years Go to Walpole, Sir Robert, 1st Earl of Orford (1676–1745) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics British Isles Europe Britain
1724	General Wade, commander-in-chief of North Britain, begins an impressive programme of road construction in the Scottish Highlands Go to Wade, George (1673–1748) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Technology Engineering Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1726	Jonathan Swift sends his hero on a series of bitterly satirical travels in Gulliver's Travels Go to Swift, Jonathan (1667–1745) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1727	On the death of his father, George I, George II becomes king of Great Britain Go to George II (1683–1760) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Dynasties and royalty British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Handel composes Zadok the Priest for the crowning of George II, and it has been sung at every subsequent British coronation Go to Handel, George Frideric (1685–1759) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Baroque Britain 1500-1750 Performing arts Music Politics Dynasties and royalty British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1730	John and Charles Wesley form a Holy Club at Oxford which becomes the cradle of Methodism Go to Holy Club in The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Religion Christianity British Isles Europe Britain
1731	The Flemish-born sculptor Michael Rysbrack creates a monument to Newton in Westminster Abbey Go to Rysbrack, Michael (24 June 1694) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Arts Sculpture British art British Isles Europe Britain English maker of telescopes John Hadley designs the instrument which evolves into the standard sextant used at sea Go to sextant in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Technology Inventions and discoveries British Isles Europe Britain
1732	With the performance of Esther Handel taps a rich new vein, the English oratorio Go to Handel, George Frideric (1685–1759) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Baroque Britain 1500-1750 Performing arts Music British Isles Europe Britain
1733	John Kay, working in the Lancashire woollen industry, patents the flying shuttle to speed up weaving Go to Kay, John (1704–c. 1780) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Technology Inventions and discoveries British Isles Europe Britain
1739	Britain declares war on Spain, partly in a mood of indignation over Captain Jenkins' ear Go to Jenkins's Ear, War of in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 War British Isles Europe Spain Britain David Hume publishes his Treatise of Human Nature, in which he applies to the human mind the principles of experimental science Go to Hume, David (1711–76) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Literature English literature Literature in English Philosophy British Isles Europe Britain
1740	Jack Broughton, champion of England, opens an academy to teach 'the mystery of boxing, that wholly British art' Go to broughtonian n. in Green's Dictionary of Slang (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Sports and games British Isles Europe Society Britain
1742	Edmond Hoyle publishes the definitive rules of whist Go to whist in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Sports and games British Isles Europe Society Britain
1744	France formally declares war on Britain half way through the War of the Austrian Succession Go to Austrian Succession, War of the (1740–48) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 War British Isles Europe France Britain
1745	Charles Edward Stuart lands at Eriskay in the Hebrides, launching the Forty-Five Rebellion Go to Stuart, Charles Edward (1720–88) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Protest and rebellion War Scotland British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Charles Edward Stuart gathers support for the Forty-Five Rebellion on his way south from the Hebrides and reaches Edinburgh Go to Stuart, Charles Edward (1720–88) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Protest and rebellion War Scotland British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Charles Edward Stuart marches as far south as Derby, but then turns back Go to Stuart, Charles Edward (1720–88) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Protest and rebellion War Scotland British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1746	Charles Edward Stuart and his 5000 Scots are routed at Culloden, bringing the Forty-Five Rebellion to an abrupt end Go to Stuart, Charles Edward (1720–88) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Protest and rebellion Battles Scotland British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Tartan and Highland dress are banned by the British government, in a prohibition not lifted until 1782 Go to tartan in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Politics Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1747	Samuel Richardson's Clarissa begins the correspondence that grows into the longest novel in the English language Go to Clarissa: or The History of a Young Lady in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction British Isles Europe Britain
1749	Henry Fielding introduces a character of lasting appeal in the lusty but good-hearted Tom Jones Go to Tom Jones, The History of in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction British Isles Europe Britain
1750	Horace Walpole begins to create his own Strawberry Hill, a neo-Gothic fantasy, on the banks of the Thames west of London Go to Walpole, Horace, 4th earl of Orford (1717–97) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1500-1750 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture British Isles Gothic Europe Britain
1751	English poet Thomas Gray publishes his Elegy written in a Country Church Yard Go to Gray, Thomas (1716–71) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain English gardener Lancelot Brown sets up in business as a freelance 'improver of grounds', and soon acquires the nickname Capability Brown Go to Brown, Lancelot (1715/16–83) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts British art British Isles Europe Britain
1752	Britain is one of the last nations to adjust to the more accurate Gregorian calendar, causing a suspicious public to fear they have been robbed of eleven days Go to Gregorian calendar in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic British Isles Europe Society Britain English obstetrician William Smellie introduces scientific midwifery as a result of his researches into childbirth Go to midwifery in Concise Medical Dictionary (8 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine British Isles Europe Britain
1754	Scottish chemist Joseph Black identifies the existence of a gas, carbon dioxide, which he calls 'fixed air' Go to Black, Joseph (1728–99) in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1755	Samuel Johnson publishes his magisterial Dictionary of the English Language Go to Johnson, Samuel (1709–84) in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain
1757	Admiral John Byng is shot on the deck of a ship in Portsmouth harbour for 'neglect of duty' in failing to relieve Minorca Go to Byng, John (1704–57) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 War British Isles Europe Britain Robert Adam returns to Britain after two years in Rome with a repertoire of classical themes which he mingles to form a new British neoclassicism Go to Adam, Robert (1728–92) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Scotland British Isles Rome Europe Britain William Pitt the Elder becomes secretary of state and transforms the British war effort against France in America Go to Pitt, William, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708–78) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics War British Isles British empire Europe Empires Britain English painter Joseph Wright sets up a studio in his home town, Derby Go to Wright, Joseph (3 Sept. 1734) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1758	Joshua Reynolds is by now the most fashionable portrait painter in London, copies with as many as 150 sitters in a year Go to Reynolds, Sir Joshua (1723–92) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art British Isles Europe Britain A comet returns exactly at the time predicted by English astronomer Edmond Halley, and is subsequently known by his name Go to Halley, Edmund (1656–1742) in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Astronomy and space British Isles Europe Britain James Woodforde, an English country parson with a love of food and wine, begins a detailed diary of everyday life Go to Woodforde, Revd James (1740–1803) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain Liverpool-born artist George Stubbs sets up in London as a painter, above all, of people and horses Go to Stubbs, George (1724–1806) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1759	Portrait-painter Thomas Gainsborough moves from Suffolk to set up a studio in fashionable Bath Go to Gainsborough, Thomas (1727–88) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art British Isles Europe Britain Staffordshire potter Josiah Wedgwood sets up a factory of his own in his home town of Burslem Go to Wedgwood, Josiah (1730–95) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Decorative arts British art British Isles Europe Britain Laurence Sterne publishes the first two volumes of Tristram Shandy, beginning with the scene at the hero's conception Go to Sterne, Laurence (1713–68) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction British Isles Europe Britain A British defeat of the French in Quiberon Bay prompts David Garrick to write Heart of Oak Go to ‘Heart of Oak’ in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 War Battles British Isles Europe Britain A succession of victories cause 1759 to be known in Britain as annus mirabilis, the wonderful year Go to ‘Heart of Oak’ in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 War British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1760	German painter Johann Zoffany moves to England to find work as a painter of conversation pieces and portraits Go to Zoffany, Johann (13 Mar. 1733) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art British Isles Europe Germany Britain On the death of his grandfather, George II, George III becomes king of Great Britain Go to George III (1738–1820) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1761	Scottish chemist and physicist Joseph Black observes the latent heat in melting ice Go to Black, Joseph (1728–99) in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics Scotland British Isles Europe Britain John Harrison's fourth chronometer is only five seconds out at the end of a test journey from England to Jamaica Go to Harrison, John (1693–1776) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries British Isles Europe Britain Latin America Caribbean
1762	Johann Sebastian Bach's youngest son, Johann Christian, moves to London and becomes known as the English Bach Go to Bach, Johann Christian (1735–82) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music British Isles Europe Germany Britain Fingal, supposedly by the medieval poet Ossian, is a forgery in the spirit of the times by James MacPherson Go to Macpherson, James (1736–96) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1763	A treaty signed in Paris ends the Seven Years' War between Britain, France and Spain Go to Paris, Treaty of (1763) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics War British Isles European empires from 1415 Europe France Spain Empires Britain English journalist John Wilkes is arrested for publishing seditious libel in issue no 45 of his weekly magazine The North Briton Go to Wilkes, John (1725–97) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 British Isles Europe Britain James Boswell meets Samuel Johnson for the first time, in the London bookshop of Thomas Davies Go to Boswell, James (1740–95) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain American artist Benjamin West settles in London, where he becomes famous for his large-scale history scenes Go to West, Benjamin (1738–1820) in The Oxford Companion to Western Art (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art British Isles Europe Britain
1764	James Watt ponders on the inefficiency of contemporary steam engines and invents the condenser Go to Watt, James (1736–1819) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Steam Technology Inventions and discoveries Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Britain passes the Sugar Act, levying duty on sugar, wine and textiles imported into America Go to Sugar Acts in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion Commerce and industry British Isles British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States Lancashire spinner James Hargreaves conceives the idea of the spinning jenny, with multiple spindles worked from a single wheel Go to Hargreaves, James (1722–1778) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries British Isles Europe Britain English historian Edward Gibbon, sitting among ruins in Rome, conceives the idea of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Go to Gibbon, Edward (1737–94) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain English author Horace Walpole provides an early taste of Gothic thrills in his novel Castle of Otranto Go to Walpole, Horace, 4th earl of Orford (1717–97) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction British Isles Gothic Europe Britain
1765	Britain passes the Stamp Act, taxing legal documents and newspapers in the American colonies Go to Stamp Act (1765) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion Commerce and industry British Isles British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States
1766	Britain repeals the Stamp Act, in a major reversal of policy achieved by resistance in the American colonies Go to Stamp Act (1765) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion British Isles British colonial America European empires from 1415 Europe Empires Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States English chemist Henry Cavendish isolates hydrogen but believes that it is phlogiston Go to Cavendish, Henry (1731–1810) in A Dictionary of Chemistry (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry British Isles Europe Britain
1767	Work begins on Edinburgh's New Town, to the design of the 23-year-old architect James Craig Go to Craig, James (1744–95) in A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Scotland British Isles Europe Britain The British Chancellor, Charles Townshend, passes a series of acts taxing all glass, lead, paint, paper and tea imported into the American colonies Go to Townshend Acts (1767) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion Commerce and industry British Isles British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States
1768	Captain James Cook sails from Plymouth, in England, heading for Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus Go to Cook, James (1728–79) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Exploration British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Europe Society Empires Britain A Society of Gentlemen in Scotland begins publication of the immensely successful Encyclopaedia Britannica Go to Encyclopaedia Britannica in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Scotland British Isles Europe Britain The Royal Academy is established in London, with Joshua Reynolds as its first president Go to Royal Academy of Arts in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1770	The triangular trade, controlled from Liverpool, ships millions of Africans across the Atlantic as slaves Go to slave trade, African in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Migration Slavery British Isles European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Society Empires Britain Latin America North America 17-year-old Thomas Chatterton, later hailed as a significant poet, commits suicide in a London garret Go to Chatterton, Thomas (1752–70) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain In response to American protests, the British government removes the Townshend duties on all commodities with the exception of tea Go to Townshend Acts (1767) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion British Isles British colonial America European empires from 1415 Europe Empires Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States
1771	English entrepreneur Richard Arkwright adds water power to spinning by means of the water frame Go to Arkwright, Sir Richard (1732–92) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries British Isles Europe Britain Richard Arkwright pioneers the factory environment with his cotton mill at Cromford in Derbyshire Go to Arkwright, Sir Richard (1732–92) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry British Isles Europe Society Britain
1772	Captain Cook sets off, in HMS Resolution, on his second voyage to the southern hemisphere Go to Cook, James (1728–79) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Exploration British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Europe Society Empires Britain
1773	English prison reformer John Howard is shocked into action by the conditions he sees in Bedford gaol Go to Howard, John (1726–90) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics British Isles Europe Britain The London brokers who meet to do business in Jonathan's coffee house decide to call themselves the Stock Exchange Go to stock exchange in A Dictionary of Finance and Banking (4 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry British Isles Europe Society Britain Oliver Goldsmith's play She Stoops to Conquer is produced in London's Covent Garden theatre Go to Goldsmith, Oliver (1728–74) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain Samuel Johnson and James Boswell undertake a journey together to the western islands of Scotland Go to Johnson, Samuel (1709–84) in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1774	Britain's new Coercive (or Intolerable) Acts include the requirement that Massachusetts citizens give board and lodging to British troops Go to Coercive Acts (1774) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion British Isles British colonial America European empires from 1415 Europe Empires Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States Encouraged by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine emigrates to America and settles in Philadelphia Go to Paine, Thomas (1737–1809) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature American literature English literature Literature in English British Isles British colonial America Europe Britain North America United States Illiterate visionary Ann Lee, leader of an English sect, the 'Shaking Quakers', crosses the Atlantic to spread the word Go to Shakers in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Religion British Isles British colonial America Europe Britain North America United States English chemist Joseph Priestley isolates oxygen, but he believes it to be 'dephlogisticated air' Go to Priestley, Joseph in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry British Isles Europe Britain Thomas Gainsborough moves from Bath to set up a studio in London Go to Gainsborough, Thomas (1727–88) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art British Isles Europe Britain
1775	John Singleton Copley, already established as America's greatest portrait painter, moves to London Go to Copley, John Singleton (1738?–1815) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting American painting British painting British art British Isles American art British colonial America Europe Britain North America United States Captain Cook publishes his discovery of a preventive cure against scurvy, in the form of a regular ration of lemon juice Go to Cook, James (1728–79) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine British Isles Europe Britain
1776	Two Boulton and Watt engines are installed, the first of many in the mines and mills of England's developing industrial revolution Go to Watt, James (1736–1819) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Technology Engineering British Isles Europe Society Britain English historian Edward Gibbon publishes the first volume of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Go to Gibbon, Edward (1737–94) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English British Isles Europe Britain Scottish economist Adam Smith analyzes the nature and causes of the Wealth of Nations Go to Smith, Adam (1723–90) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Commerce and industry Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain
1777	Richard Brinsley Sheridan's second play, The School for Scandal, is an immediate success in London's Drury Lane theatre Go to Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (1751–1816) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama British Isles Europe Britain
1778	France, joining the American colonies in their fight against Britain, sends a large fleet across the Atlantic Go to American Revolution in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution American Revolutionary War Britain 1750-1900 War British Isles British colonial America Europe France Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States The American naval hero John Paul Jones makes successful raids around the coasts of Britain Go to Jones, John Paul (1747–1792) in The Oxford Companion to American Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution American Revolutionary War Britain 1750-1900 War British Isles British colonial America Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States
1779	Joseph Banks tells a committee of the House of Commons that the east coast of Australia is suitable for the transportation of convicted felons Go to Banks, Sir Joseph (1743–1820) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Migration British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Europe Society Empires Australia Britain The world's first iron bridge is assembled in a few months across the Severn at Coalbrookdale Go to Coalbrookdale in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering British Isles Europe Britain Samuel Crompton perfects the mule, a machine for spinning that combines the merits of Hargreave's jenny and Arkwright's water frame Go to Crompton, Samuel (1753–1827) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries British Isles Europe Britain U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard, commanded by John Paul Jones, fights H.M.S. Serapis near England's Flamborough Head Go to Jones, John Paul (1747–1792) in The Oxford Companion to American Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution American Revolutionary War Britain 1750-1900 War British Isles British colonial America Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States
1780	Six days of riot in London are triggered by Lord George Gordon leading a march to oppose any degree of Catholic emancipation Go to Gordon, Lord George (1751–93) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion British Isles Europe Britain
1781	William Herschel discovers Uranus, the first planet to be found by means of a telescope, and names it the Georgian star Go to Herschel, (Frederick) William (1738–1822) in A Dictionary of Astronomy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Astronomy and space British Isles Europe Britain
1782	The English actress Sarah Siddons, already well known in the province, causes a sensation when she appears in London at Drury Lane Go to Siddons, Sarah (1755–1831) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre British Isles Europe Britain
1783	In the Treaty of Paris, negotiated by Adams, Franklin and Jay, the British government recognizes US independence Go to Paris, Treaty of (1783) in The Oxford Companion to American Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century American Revolution American Revolutionary War Britain 1750-1900 Politics War British Isles British colonial America European empires from 1415 Europe Empires Wars and Revolutions Britain North America United States
1784	A 24-year-old, William Pitt the Younger, is appointed Britain's prime minister by George III Go to Pitt, William (1759–1806) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics British Isles Europe Britain English ironmaster Henry Cort patents a process for puddling iron which produces a pure and malleable metal Go to Cort, Henry (1740–1800) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries British Isles Europe Britain The first mail coach leaves Bristol for London, introducing a new era of faster transport Go to Bristol in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering British Isles Europe Society Britain
1785	James Hutton describes to the Royal Society of Edinburgh his studies of local rocks , launching the era of scientific geology Go to Hutton, James (1726–97) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science British Isles Europe Britain William Withering's Account of the Foxglove describes the use of digitalis for dropsy, and its possible application to heart disease Go to Withering, William (1741–99) in The Continuum Encyclopedia of British Philosophy (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine British Isles Europe Britain
1787	The Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade is founded in London, with a strong Quaker influence Go to quakers in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Slavery British Isles Europe Society Britain The First Fleet (eleven ships carrying about 750 convicts) leaves Portsmouth for Australia Go to First Fleet in The Oxford Companion to Australian History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Europe Empires Australia Britain Scottish engineer James Watt devises the governor, the first example of industrial automation Go to Watt, James (1736–1819) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1789	England's champion pugilist, the Jewish prize-fighter Daniel Mendoza, publishes The Art of Boxing Go to pugilist noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games British Isles Europe Society Britain William Blake publishes Songs of Innocence, a volume of his poems with every page etched and illustrated by himself Go to Blake, William (1757–1827) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain In his Principles Jeremy Bentham defines 'utility' as that which enhances pleasure and reduces pain Go to Bentham, Jeremy (1748–1832) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Philosophy British Isles Europe Britain
1790	Joseph Haydn sets off for England, where impresario Johann Peter Salomon presents his London symphonies Go to Haydn, Joseph (1732–1809) in The Oxford Companion to German Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music British Isles Europe Austria Britain Anglo-Irish politician Edmund Burke publishes Reflections on the Revolution in France, a blistering attack on recent events across the Channel Go to Burke, Edmund (1729–97) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century French Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Literature French literature English literature Literature in English Politics Protest and rebellion British Isles Europe Ireland Wars and Revolutions Britain English painter J.M.W. Turner is only 15 when a painting of his, a watercolour, is first exhibited at the Royal Academy Go to Turner, Joseph Mallord William (1775–1851) in The Oxford Companion to Western Art (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art British Isles Europe Britain
1791	Scottish poet Robert Burns publishes Tam o' Shanter, in which a drunken farmer has an alarming encounter with witches Go to ‘Tam o' Shanter’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Poetry Scotland British Isles Europe Britain The Ordnance Survey is founded in Britain, to make detailed maps of the country for military purposes Go to Ordnance Survey in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 War British Isles Europe Britain Naval officer George Vancouver sails from Britain on the voyage which will bring him to the northwest coast of America Go to Vancouver, George (1757–98) in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Exploration British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain North America Canada Thomas Paine publishes the first part of The Rights of Man, his reply to Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France Go to Rights of Man, The in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century French Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Literature French literature English literature Literature in English Politics Protest and rebellion British Isles Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain
c. 1792	Scottish painter Henry Raeburn depicts the Reverend Robert Walker skating on Duddingston Loch See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Charlotte Square in Edinburgh begins to be built to the design of Robert Adam Go to Adam, Robert (1728–92) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Scotland British Isles Europe Britain English author Mary Wollstonecraft publishes a passionately feminist work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Politics British Isles Europe Britain Thomas Paine moves hurriedly to France, to escape a charge of treason in England for opinions expressed in his Rights of Man Go to Rights of Man, The in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century French Revolution Britain 1750-1900 Literature French literature English literature Literature in English Politics Protest and rebellion British Isles Europe France Wars and Revolutions Britain George III sends Lord Macartney on an embassy to the Chinese emperor Qianlong Go to Macartney's embassy in An Oxford Companion to the Romantic Age (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics British Isles European empires from 1415 Asia East Asia China Europe Empires Britain
1793	Britain joins other European nations in war against France, mainly in naval engagements in the West Indies and Atlantic Go to Revolutionary Wars (1792–1802) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century French Revolutionary Wars Britain 1750-1900 War British Isles Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain
1794	The treaty agreed by US envoy John Jay restores some degree of friendship between the USA and Britain Go to Jay's Treaty in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics British Isles Europe Britain North America United States William Blake's volume Songs of Innocence and Experience includes his poem 'Tyger! Tyger! burning bright' See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1795	Thomas Paine publishes his completed Age of Reason, an attack on conventional Christianity Go to Age of Reason, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Religion Christianity British Isles Europe Britain
1796	In Berkeley, Gloucestershire, Edward Jenner inoculates a boy with cowpox in the pioneering case of vaccination Go to Jenner, Edward (1749–1823) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine British Isles Europe Britain
1797	Samuel Taylor Coleridge says that while writing Kubla Khan he is interrupted by 'a person on business from Porlock' Go to ‘Kubla Khan: a Vision in a Dream’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1798	English poets Wordsworth and Coleridge jointly publish Lyrical Ballads, a milestone in the Romantic movement Go to Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' is published in Lyrical Ballads Go to Ancient Mariner, The Rime of the in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry British Isles Europe Britain
1799	English surveyor William Smith compiles a manuscript, Order of the Strata, revealing chronology through fossils in rocks Go to Smith, William in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Science British Isles Europe Britain British prime minister William Pitt introduces income tax at 10% to pay for the war against France Go to income tax in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic British Isles Europe Society Britain The British parliament passes a Combination Act, classing any association of labourers as a criminal conspiracy Go to Combination Acts in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 British Isles Europe Britain
1800	Welsh industrialist Robert Owen takes charge of a mill at New Lanark and develops it as an experiment in paternalistic socialism Go to Owen, Robert in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Communism Commerce and industry Wales British Isles Europe Society Britain
1801	The Act of Union comes into effect, linking Ireland with Britain to form the United Kingdom Go to Union, Acts of in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Ireland Rulers and politicians Britain British prime minister William Pitt resigns when George III vetoes Catholic emancipation, but is recalled three years later Go to Catholic Emancipation, Act of (1829) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Both France and Britain, engaged against each other in the Napoleonic Wars, take the first census of their populations Go to Census Act (1800) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Napoleonic era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Society Britain The first census of the United Kingdom reveals that the population numbers approximately 9 million Go to Census Act (1800) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1802	The British parliament passes the first Factory Act, limiting a child's working day in a factory to twelve hours Go to Factory Acts in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain A steam tug designed by William Symington, the Charlotte Dundas, goes into service on the Forth and Clyde canal Go to Charlotte Dundas in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Steam Canals Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain The treaty agreed at Amiens between France and Britain brings a welcome lull after ten years of warfare in Europe Go to Amiens, treaty of (1802) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars 19th century Napoleonic era Britain 1750-1900 Politics War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Wars and Revolutions Britain English journalist William Cobbett launches a weekly newspaper, The Political Register, that he continues till his death in 1835 Go to Political Register in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1803	Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick drives a steam carriage in London, from Holborn to Paddington and back Go to Trevithick, Richard (1771–1833) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Steam Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The peace of Amiens comes to an abrupt end when Britain declares war again on France Go to Amiens, treaty of (1802) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Napoleonic Wars 19th century Napoleonic era Britain 1750-1900 Politics War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Wars and Revolutions Britain English chemist John Dalton reads a paper describing his Law of Partial Pressure in gases (discovered in 1801) Go to Dalton, John (1766–1844) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry Physics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain At the end of his Partial Pressure paper, John Dalton makes brief mention of his radical theory of differing atomic weights Go to Dalton, John (1766–1844) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1804	Richard Trevithick runs the first locomotive on rails, pulling heavy weights a distance of 9 miles (15 km) near Merthyr Tydfil in Wales Go to Trevithick, Richard (1771–1833) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Society Britain William Blake includes his poem 'Jerusalem' in the Preface to his book Milton Go to Milton in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Jerusalem United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1805	The first barge is pulled by a horse along Thomas Telford's cast-iron aqueduct, high in the air at Pont Cysyllte Go to aqueduct in A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Canals Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain With advice from Thomas Daniell, Samuel Pepys Cockerell builds himself a house, Sezincote, with a roof line of fanciful Indian domes Go to Cockerell, Samuel Pepys (1753–1827) in A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Lord Castlereagh becomes secretary of state for war in William Pitt's government Go to Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 2nd marquess of Londonderry (1769–1822) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Walter Scott publishes The Lay of the Last Minstrel, the long romantic poem that first brings him fame Go to Lay of the Last Minstrel, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1806	Napoleon imposes his Continental System, designed to strangle Britain's trade Go to Continental System in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Napoleonic Wars 19th century Napoleonic era Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Society Wars and Revolutions Britain
1807	To counteract Napoleon's Continental System, Britain passes orders in council penalizing any vessel trading into French-held ports Go to Continental System in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Napoleonic Wars 19th century Napoleonic era Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Society Wars and Revolutions Britain English chemist Humphry Davy uses electrolysis to isolate the elements sodium and potassium Go to Davy, Sir Humphry in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A Scottish clergyman, Alexander Forsyth, invents the percussion cap to help in his pursuit of wildfowl Go to percussion cap noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries Weapons United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Legislation abolishing the slave trade is passed in both Britain and America Go to slave trade, abolition of in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Slavery United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain North America United States Anglo-US tensions are heightened by a clash between the frigates Leopard and Chesapeake off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia Go to Chesapeake affair in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States George Canning is appointed British foreign secretary in the new administration of the Duke of Portland Go to Canning, George in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English collector Thomas Hope publishes his Greek and Egyptian designs in Household Furniture and Interior Decoration Go to Hope, Thomas (1769–1831) in A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Decorative arts British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1808	The French capture of Madrid provokes a British response and the resulting Peninsular War Go to Peninsular War (1808–14) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Napoleonic Wars 19th century Napoleonic era Britain 1750-1900 War United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Spain Wars and Revolutions Britain
1809	Rival British politicians Lord Castlereagh and George Canning fight a duel in which Canning is wounded Go to Canning, George (1770–1827) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1810	Walter Scott's poem Lady of the Lake brings tourists in unprecedented numbers to Scotland's Loch Katrine Go to Lady of the Lake, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1811	The British king George III, suffering from porphyria, is deemed unfit to govern and his eldest son becomes Prince Regent Go to George III (1738–1820) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain A 12-year-old Dorset child, Mary Anning, discovers at Lyme Regis a 21ft (6.4m) fossil of an ichthyosaur Go to Anning, Mary (1799–1847) in A Dictionary of Earth Sciences (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Percy Bysshe Shelley is expelled from Oxford university for circulating a pamphlet with the title The Necessity of Atheism Go to Shelley, Percy Bysshe (1792–1822) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Jane Austen publishes her first work in print, Sense and Sensibility, at her own expense Go to Austen, Jane in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Masked Luddites smash machinery in night raids on factories in Nottingham Go to Luddites in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1812	Lord Castlereagh becomes British foreign secretary in Spencer Perceval's government Go to Castlereagh, Viscount in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Britain's first primary school is established by Robert Owen at New Lanark in Scotland Go to Owen, Robert (1771–1858) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain The British prime minister, Spencer Perceval, is assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons by John Bellingham Go to Perceval, Spencer (1762–1812) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Terrorism and assassination United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain After the death of Perceval, Lord Liverpool begins a 15-year spell as Britain's prime minister Go to Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of (1770–1828) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Damage to US trade by British orders in council prompts war (the War of 1812) between the two nations Go to War of 1812 in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Commerce and industry War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles US presidents Europe Society Rulers and politicians Britain North America United States The US frigate Constitution, affectionately known as 'Old Ironsides', wins successes against British warships in the Atlantic Go to Old Ironsides in New Oxford American Dictionary (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States The first two cantos are published of Byron's largely autobiographical poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, bringing him immediate fame Go to Byron, George Gordon, 6th Baron Byron (1788–1824) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1813	William Hedley's Puffing Billy, the first steam locomotive running on smooth rails, goes to work at Wylam colliery Go to railways in The Oxford Dictionary of Local and Family History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Steam Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Quaker philanthropist Elizabeth Fry, appalled by the condition of female prisoners in London's Newgate gaol, begins campaigning on their behalf Go to Fry, Elizabeth (1780–1845) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Pride and Prejudice, based on a youthful work of 1797 called First Impressions, is the second of Jane Austen's novels to be published Go to Austen, Jane in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1814	A cold February freezes the Thames and makes possible the last of London's famous frost fairs Go to frost fairs in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain English engineer George Stephenson builds his first locomotive, the Blucher, and runs it at the Killingworth colliery Go to Stephenson, George (1781–1848) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Robert Peel, chief secretary for Ireland, introduces a police force soon known as the 'Peelers' Go to peeler in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain The Times, England's oldest daily newspaper, becomes the first to print on a steam press Go to Times, The in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Steam Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Britain and the United States sign the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812 Go to Ghent, treaty of (1815) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles US presidents Europe Rulers and politicians Britain North America United States
1815	English chemist Humphry Davy invents a safety lamp that shields the naked flame and prevents explosions in mines Go to Davy, Sir Humphry (1778–1829) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Scottish engineer John McAdam builds the first macadamized road, in the Bristol region of southwest England Go to McAdam, John Loudon (1756–1836) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain The first news of the victory at Waterloo is given to the British government by a private citizen, Nathan Mayer Rothschild Go to Rothschild in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Napoleonic Wars 19th century Napoleonic era Britain 1750-1900 War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain Napoleon, held on a British warship off Torquay and hoping now to live in Britain, becomes an instant tourist attraction Go to Bellerophon, HMS in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Napoleonic era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Society Britain Wellington is presented with a twice-life-size nude marble statue, by Canova, of his vanquished enemy Napoleon Go to Canova, Antonio (1757–1822) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Napoleonic era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Sculpture British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English architect John Nash designs the exotic Royal Pavilion in Brighton for the Prince Regent Go to Nash, John (1752–1835) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1817	On the death of Princess Charlotte, not one of seven princes has an heir to succeed to the British throne in the next generation Go to Charlotte Augusta, Princess (1796–1817) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1818	Percy Bysshe Shelley publishes probably his best-known poem, the sonnet Ozymandias Go to Shelley, Percy Bysshe (1792–1822) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Two of Jane Austen's novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, are published in the year after her death Go to Austen, Jane (1775–1817) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Mary Shelley publishes Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, a Gothic tale about giving life to an artificial man Go to Shelley, Mary in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1819	William Cobbett brings back to England the bones of Thomas Paine, who died in the USA in 1809 Go to Cobbett, William (1763–1835) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Magistrates order troops to fire on a crowd in Manchester, in what becomes known as the Peterloo massacre Go to Peterloo massacre (16 August 1819) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Persecution and repression United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Byron begins publication in parts of his longest poem, Don Juan an epic satirical comment on contemporary life Go to Don Juan in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The United Kingdom formally adopts the gold standard for its currency, after using it on a de facto basis since 1717 Go to gold standard in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Walter Scott publishes Ivanhoe, a tale of love, tournaments and sieges at the time of the crusades Go to Ivanhoe in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1820	The British king George III dies after 59 years on the throne – a longer reign than any of his predecessors Go to George III (1738–1820) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain On the death of his father, George III, the Prince Regent succeeds to the British throne as George IV Go to George IV (1762–1830) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain English poet John Keats publishes Ode to a Nightingale, inspired by the bird's song in his Hampstead garden Go to Keats, John (1795–1821) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley publishes Ode to the West Wind, written mainly in a wood near Florence Go to ‘Ode to the West Wind’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Florence Europe Britain French painter Théodore Géricault begins a two-year visit to Britain Go to Géricault, Théodore in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting French painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles French art Europe France Britain English painter John Constable acquires a house in Hampstead, a region of London that features frequently in his work Go to Constable, John (1776–1837) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1821	English author Thomas De Quincey publishes his autobiographical Confessions of an English Opium-Eater Go to De Quincey, Thomas in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English poet John Keats dies in Rome at the age of twenty-five Go to Keats, John (1795–1821) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Italian literature United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Rome Europe Italy Britain English radical William Cobbett begins his journeys round England, published in 1830 as Rural Rides Go to Cobbett, William (1763–1835) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain English author William Hazlitt publishes Table Talk, a two-volume collection that includes most of his best-known essays Go to Hazlitt, William in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain During his coronation George IV has the doors of Westminster Abbey closed against his queen, Caroline Go to Caroline of Brunswick (1768–1821) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1822	George Canning becomes the British foreign secretary for the second time, in Lord Liverpool's government Go to Canning, George in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain George IV wears a tartan kilt when visiting Edinburgh, and launches a new craze for Highland dress Go to Highland dress noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain Walter Scott begins to transform Abbotsford into a romantic house that he refers to as his 'conundrum castle' Go to Scott, Sir Walter in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1823	Daniel O'Connell organizes Catholic Associations throughout Ireland, funded by the members' penny subscriptions Go to Catholic Association (1823–9) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Religion Christianity United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain A Rugby schoolboy, William Webb Ellis, picks up the football and runs with it in rugby union's founding myth Go to rugby football in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1824	The Combination Acts of 1799 and 1800, outlawing trade unions in Britain, are repealed Go to Combination Acts in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain 12-year-old Charles Dickens works in London in Warren's boot-blacking factory Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1825	The Joint-Stock Companies Act introduces regulations to protect investors in Britain Go to joint-stock company in A Dictionary of Finance and Banking (4 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Active (later called Locomotion) is the engine on the first passenger railway, between Stockton and Darlington Go to Stephenson, George in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1826	Scottish engineer Thomas Telford completes two suspension bridges in Wales, at Conwy and over the Menai Strait Go to Telford, Thomas (1757–1834) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1827	George Canning becomes the British prime minister, but dies five months later Go to Canning, George in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English artist Samuel Palmer moves to Shoreham, in Kent, for the most inspired years of his career Go to Palmer, Samuel (1805–81) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1828	The Duke of Wellington becomes British prime minister, heading the Tory government at a time when reform is urgently needed Go to Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of (1769–1852) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain William Burke and William Hare murder 16 victims and sell their bodies to the Edinburgh Medical School for anatomical study Go to Burke and Hare [Crime] in The Oxford Dictionary of Reference and Allusion (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1829	The Metropolitan Police, set up in London by Robert Peel, become known as 'bobbies' from his first name Go to bobby in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Emancipation Act, enabling Daniel O'Connell to take his seat at Westminster, at last removes the restrictions on Catholics in UK public life Go to Catholic Emancipation, Act of (1829) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Religion Christianity United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain German composer Felix Mendelssohn visits the Hebrides and see's Fingal's Cave, later the theme of his Hebrides Overture Go to Fingal's Cave in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Germany Britain Oxford and Cambridge compete against each other in the first university boat race, held at Henley Go to Boat Race in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The locomotive Rocket, built by George and Robert Stephenson, defeats two rivals in the Rainhill trials, near Liverpool Go to Stephenson, George (1781–1848) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1830	William IV succeeds his brother George IV as the British king Go to William IV (1765–1837) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The death of the last infant cousin senior to her in the royal succession makes Victoria heir to the British throne Go to Victoria (1819–1901) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Earl Grey becomes British prime minister at the head of a Whig government committed to reform Go to Grey, Charles, 2nd Earl (1764–1845) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain George Stephenson's railway between Liverpool and Manchester opens, with passengers pulled by eight locomotives based on Rocket Go to Stephenson, George in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1831	Old London Bridge is demolished after more than six centuries, ending the chance of frost fairs on the Thames Go to London in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Old Sarum, the most notorious of Britain's rotten boroughs, has just seven voters but returns two members to parliament Go to Old Sarum in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The first Whig Reform Bill is carried in the British House of Commons by a single vote Go to Reform Acts in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain HMS Beagle sails from Plymouth to survey the coasts of the southern hemisphere, with Charles Darwin as the expedition's naturalist Go to Beagle, HMS in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences Exploration United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain
1832	English scientist Michael Faraday reports his discovery of the first law of electrolysis, to be followed a year later by the second Go to Faraday, Michael (1791–1867) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English mathematician Charles Babbage builds a sophisticated calculating machine, which he calls a 'difference engine' Go to Babbage, Charles (1791–1871) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Frances Trollope ruffles transatlantic feathers with her Domestic Manners of the Americans, based on a 3-year stay Go to Trollope, Frances (1780–1863) in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature American literature English literature Literature in English Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain North America United States After several rejections by Britain's House of Lords, the Reform Bill finally passes and receives royal assent Go to Reform Acts in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Mendelssohn's concert overture The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) has its premiere in London's Covent Garden Go to Fingal's Cave in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain 20-year-old English artist Edward Lear publishes Family of the Psittacidae, a collection of his paintings of parrots Go to Lear, Edward (1812–88) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1833	27-year-old Isambard Kingdom Brunel wins his first major appointment, as chief engineer to the Great Western railway Go to Brunel, Isambard Kingdom (1806–59) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain 30-year-old Robert Stephenson is appointed chief engineer to the London and Birmingham railway Go to Stephenson, Robert (1803–59) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1834	The Tories in Britain adopt a reassuring name for an uncertain future – Conservatives Go to Conservative Party in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Six farm labourers, from Tolpuddle in Dorset, are transported for seven years to Australia for administering unlawful oaths in the forming of a union Go to Tolpuddle Martyrs in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Australia and Oceania Europe Australia Britain Lord Melbourne becomes Britain's prime minister, at the head of the same Whig administration after the resignation of Earl Grey Go to Melbourne, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount (1779–1848) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Prime minister Lord Melbourne has difficulties in holding his government together and is dismissed by William IV Go to Melbourne, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount (1779–1848) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain William IV invites the Tory leader Robert Peel to form a government in place of the Whigs Go to Peel, Sir Robert (1788–1850) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain In London a great fire destroys most of the Palace of Westminster, including the two houses of parliament Go to Westminster, Palace of in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
c. 1835	English architect and designer Augustus Welby Pugin plays a major part in the second stage of the Gothic Revival Go to Pugin, Augustus Welby (1812–52) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Election results in Britain mean that Robert Peel is unable to form a Tory government, and Lord Melbourne returns as Britain's prime minister Go to Melbourne, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount (1779–1848) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Fox Talbot exposes the first photographic negatives, among them a view looking out through an oriel window in Lacock Abbey Go to Talbot, William Henry Fox (1800–77) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English artist Edward Lear begins a series of travels, sketching around the Mediterranean and in the Middle East Go to Lear, Edward (1812–88) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Africa North Africa Asia West Asia Europe Britain
1836	Charles Barry wins the competition to design the new Houses of Parliament Go to Barry, Sir Charles (1795–1860) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 Gothic Europe Britain 24-year-old Charles Dickens begins monthly publication of his first work of fiction, Pickwick Papers (published in book form in 1837) Go to Pickwick Papers in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Tolpuddle Martyrs are brought back to England from Australia after public protest leads to their sentences being remitted Go to Tolpuddle Martyrs in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Australia and Oceania Europe Australia Britain Work begins on the suspension bridge over the river Avon, at Clifton, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel Go to Brunel, Isambard Kingdom (1806–59) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain HMS Beagle reaches Falmouth, in Cornwall, after a voyage of five years, and Charles Darwin brings with him a valuable collection of specimens Go to Beagle, HMS in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences Exploration United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1837	The 18-year-old Victoria comes to the throne in Britain, beginning the long Victorian era Go to Victoria (1819–1901) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Work begins on Charles Barry's spectacular design for London's new Houses of Parliament Go to Barry, Sir Charles (1795–1860) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Gothic Europe Britain The Whig party in Britain begin referring to themselves as Liberals Go to Whigs in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The first trains run between London and Birmingham on the railway designed by Robert Stephenson Go to Stephenson, Robert (1803–59) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Charles Dickens' first novel, Oliver Twist, begins monthly publication (in book form, 1838) Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1838	An Irish packet steamer, the Sirius, becomes the first steamship to cross the Atlantic, completing the journey to New York in 19 days Go to Sirius in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Steam Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Society Britain Brunel's Great Western, a wooden paddle-steamer, arrives in New York the day after the Sirius, with the record for an Atlantic crossing already reduced to 15 days Go to Great Western in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Steam Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The London Prize Ring rules disallow kicking, gouging, head-butting and biting in the sport of boxing Go to boxing in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The People's Charter, with its six political demands, launches the Chartist movement in England Go to Chartism noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain J.M.W. Turner paints an icon of British art, The Fighting Téméraire Go to Turner, J. M. W. in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Seven Manchester merchants and mill-owners found the Anti-Corn Law League Go to Anti-Corn Law League in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1839	In the Bedchamber Crisis, Queen Victoria shows steely determination in refusing to dismiss politically committed ladies of her bedchamber Go to Bedchamber crisis (1839) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1840	Queen Victoria gives Kew Gardens to the nation, as a botanic garden of scientific importance Go to Kew Gardens in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Rowland Hill introduces in Britain the world's first postage stamps - the Penny Black and Two Pence Blue Go to Hill, Sir Rowland (1795–1879) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Technology Communication United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Victoria marries Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and soon, with nine children, they provide the very image of the ideal Victorian family Go to Victoria (1819–1901) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1841	Robert Peel replaces Lord Melbourne as prime minister after a Conservative victory in the British general election Go to Peel, Sir Robert (1788–1850) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Fox Talbot patents the 'calotype', introducing the negative-positive process that becomes standard in photography Go to calotype in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain With a teetotallers' rail trip for 570 people, Thomas Cook introduces the notion of the package tour Go to Cook, Thomas in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Travel and transport United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1842	Robert Peel's Conservative administration reintroduces income tax in Britain, at a fixed level of approximately 3% Go to income tax in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Lord Shaftesbury's Mines Act makes it illegal for boys under 13, and women and girls of any age, to be employed underground in Britain Go to Mines Act (1842) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The young Friedrich Engels is sent from Germany to manage the family cotton-spinning factory in Manchester Go to Engels, Friedrich (1820–95) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Communism Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Irish nationalist Daniel O'Connell pioneers mass political demonstrations, which become known as 'monster meetings' Go to Monster Meetings in Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain English poet Robert Browning publishes a vivid narrative poem about the terrible revenge of The Pied Piper of Hamelin Go to Browning, Robert in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Thomas Babington Macaulay publishes a collection of stirring ballads, Lays of Ancient Rome Go to Macaulay, Thomas Babington (1800–59) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1843	The Brunel engineers, father and son, finish an 18-year project tunnelling under the Thames between Wapping and Rotherhithe Go to Brunel, Isambard Kingdom (1806–1859) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Henry Cole commissions 1000 copies of the world's first Christmas card, designed for him by John Calcott Horsley Go to Cole, Henry (1808–82) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The statue of Nelson, by E.H. Baily, is placed on top of its column in Trafalgar Square Go to Baily, Edward Hodges (10 Mar. 1788) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Sculpture British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Isambard Kingdom Brunel launches the Great Britain, the first iron steamship designed for the transatlantic passenger trade Go to Brunel, Isambard Kingdom (1806–1859) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Steam Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Daniel O'Connell is convicted of seditious conspiracy and is sentenced to prison Go to O'Connell, Daniel (1775–1847) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Ebenezer Scrooge mends his ways just in time in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol Go to Scrooge, Ebenezer in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1844	The first great entrepreneur of the railway age, George Hudson, becomes known as the Railway King Go to Hudson, George (1800–71) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Daniel O'Connell is acquitted on appeal and released from prison Go to O'Connell, Daniel (1775–1847) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain In his novel Coningsby Benjamin Disraeli develops the theme of Conservatism uniting 'two nations', the rich and the poor Go to Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Society Rulers and politicians Britain The Young Men's Christian Association is founded in London by British drapery assistant George Williams Go to Young Men's Christian Association in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Religion Christianity United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1845	English naval officer John Franklin sets off with two ships, Erebus and Terror, to search for the Northwest Passage Go to Franklin, Sir John (1786–1847) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Exploration United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain A blight destroys the potato crop in Ireland and causes what becomes known as the Great Famine Go to Famine, Irish (1845–51) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Society Britain Friedrich Engels, after running a textile factory in Manchester, publishes The Condition of the Working Class in England Go to Engels, Friedrich (1820–95) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Communism Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Queen Victoria and Prince Albert follow the German custom of a family Christmas tree, immediately making it popular in Britain Go to Christmas tree in A Dictionary of English Folklore (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1846	British prime minister Robert Peel carries a bill to repeal the Corn Laws, splitting his own party in the process Go to Anti-Corn Law League in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The Irish, fleeing from the potato famine at home, become the main group of immigrants to the USA Go to Famine, Irish (1845–51) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Migration United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Society Britain North America United States The minority of Conservatives supporting Peel become a separate faction, henceforth known as the Peelites Go to Peelite noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Edward Lear publishes his Book of Nonsense, consisting of limericks illustrated with his own cartoons Go to Lear, Edward (1812–88) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain With his Conservative party split, Peel's government falls and Lord John Russell becomes British prime minister at the head of a Whig administration Go to Russell, Lord John, 1st Earl Russell (1792–1878) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah has its premiere in England, in the city of Birmingham Go to Mendelssohn, Felix (1809–47) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain After marrying secretly, the English poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett go abroad to live in Florence Go to Browning, Elizabeth Barrett (1806–61) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Florence Europe Britain Landlords in Scotland begin to clear crofters from Highland estates so as to provide pasture for sheep Go to Highland clearances in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain The three Brontë sisters jointly publish a volume of their poems and sell just two copies Go to Brontë family in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1847	A new Factory Act is passed in Britain, limiting the working day of women and children to a maximum of ten hours Go to Factory Acts in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Scottish obstetrician James Simpson uses anaesthetic (ether, and later in the year chloroform) to ease difficulty in childbirth Go to Simpson, Sir James Young in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain English author William Makepeace Thackeray begins publication of his novel Vanity Fair in monthly parts (book form 1848) Go to Thackeray, William Makepeace (1811–63) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain At a congress in London Engels persuades a group of radical Germans to adopt the name Communist League Go to Engels, Friedrich (1820–95) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Communism Protest and rebellion United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charlotte becomes the first of the Brontë sisters to have a novel published — Jane Eyre Go to Brontë family in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English mathematician George Boole describes Boolean algebra in his pamphlet Mathematical Analysis of Logic Go to Boole, George (1815–1864) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights follows just two months after her sister Charlotte's Jane Eyre Go to Brontë family in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1848	Scottish physicist William Thomson, later Lord Kelvin, proposes the 'absolute' scale of temperature Go to Kelvin, 1st Baron in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain English caricaturist George Cruikshank publishes The Drunkard's Children in support of the developing Temperance movement Go to Cruikshank, George (1792–1878) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Prints British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English art students Rossetti, Holman Hunt and Millais form the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Go to Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Branwell, Emily and Anne Brontë die within a period of eight months Go to Brontë family in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
c. 1849	Prince Albert is the driving force behind the plans for a Great Exhibition in London Go to Great Exhibition (1851) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Charles Dickens begins the publication in monthly numbers of David Copperfield, his own favourite among his novels Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Scottish painter David Roberts completes publication of his 6-volume The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia Go to Roberts, David (24 Oct. 1796) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Prints British art United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Expelled from Germany after the year of revolutions, Marx makes his home in tolerant London Go to Marx, Karl Heinrich (1818–83) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Communism United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Dante Gabriel Rossetti depicts his sister Christina in The Girlhood of Mary Virgin Go to Rossetti, Dante Gabriel (1828–82) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1850	Queen Victoria knights her favourite painter of animals, Edwin Landseer Go to Landseer, Sir Edwin (1802–73) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Alfred Tennyson's elegy for a friend, In Memoriam, captures perfectly the Victorian mood of heightened sensibility Go to Tennyson, Alfred, 1st Baron (1809–92) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British engineer Robert Stephenson completes a box-girder railway bridge over the Menai Strait, between Anglesey and mainland Wales Go to Stephenson, Robert (1803–59) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Britain English cartoonist John Tenniel begins a 50-year career drawing for the satirical magazine Punch Go to Tenniel, Sir John (1820–1914) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1851	Thomas Cubitt completes Osborne House, designed as a quiet retreat for Victoria and Albert on the Isle of Wight Go to Osborne House in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English photographer Frederick Scott Archer publishes the details of his collodion process, a marked improvement on the earlier calotype negative Go to collodion process in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Britain English textile magnate Titus Salt begins to build Saltaire as a model industrial village for his workers Go to Salt, Sir Titus (1803–76) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace, built in London in six months, is the world's first example of prefabricated architecture Go to Crystal Palace in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Great Exhibition attracts six million visitors to London's new Crystal Palace in a period of only six months Go to Great Exhibition (1851) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1852	Lord John Russell's Whig administration collapses, and Lord Derby follows him as a Conservative prime minister at the head of a coalition government Go to Derby, Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley, 14th Earl of (1799–1869) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Queen Victoria opens the new Houses of Parliament, designed by Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin Go to Houses of Parliament in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Gothic Europe Britain The Crystal Palace is dismantled in Hyde Park, to be re-erected south of the river Thames at Sydenham Go to Crystal Palace in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Scottish physicist William Thomson formulates the second law of thermodynamics, concerning the transfer of heat within a closed system Go to Thomson, Sir William (1824–1907) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Lord Aberdeen, leader of the 'Peelite' minority of the Conservative party, forms a new coalition government with the Liberals Go to Aberdeen, George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of (1784–1860) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain London physician Peter Mark Roget publishes his dictionary of synonyms, the Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases Go to Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1853	The hypodermic syringe with a plunger is simultaneously developed in France and in Scotland Go to hypodermic syringe in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe France Britain
1854	English physician John Snow proves that cholera is spread by infected water (from a pump in London's Broad Street) Go to Snow, John (1813–1858) in A Dictionary of Public Health (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences Medicine United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Britain and France enter the war between Turkey and Russia, on the Turkish side Go to Crimean War (1853–56) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Crimean War Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 War Turks United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Ottoman empire British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Empires Rulers and politicians Wars and Revolutions Britain A London editor decides to send a reporter, William Howard Russell ('Russell of The Times'), to the Crimean front Go to Mr Russell of The Times in Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Crimean War Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain Florence Nightingale, responding to reports of horrors in the Crimea, sets sail with a party of twenty-eight nurses Go to Nightingale, Florence (1820–1910) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Crimean War Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain An inconclusive battle at Balaklava includes the Charge of the Light Brigade, with British cavalry recklessly led towards Russian guns Go to Charge of the Light Brigade (1854) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Crimean War Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 War Battles United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain Within six weeks of the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimea, Tennyson publishes a poem finding heroism in the disaster Go to Charge of the Light Brigade (1854) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1855	Jamaican-born nurse Mary Seacole sets up her own 'British Hotel' in the Crimea to provide food and nursing for soldiers in need Go to Black British literature in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Crimean War Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine War United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain Latin America Caribbean Roger Fenton travels out from England to the Crimea – the world's first war photographer Go to Fenton, Roger (1819–69) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Crimean War Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain Lord Palmerston heads the coalition government in Britain after Lord Aberdeen loses a vote of confidence on his conduct of the Crimean War Go to Aberdeen, George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of (1784–1860) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Holman Hunt's The Scapegoat combines realism and symbolism in an extreme example of Pre-Raphaelite characteristics Go to Hunt, Holman (1827–1910) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain David Livingstone, moving down the Zambezi, comes upon the Victoria Falls Go to Victoria Falls in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Exploration United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain John Everett Millais marries Effie Gray, previously the wife of John Ruskin Go to Millais, John Everett (1829–96) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English artist William Simpson sends sketches from the Crimea which achieve rapid circulation in Britain as tinted lithographs Go to lithograph in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Crimean War Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Printing Arts Prints War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Wars and Revolutions Britain The Christian Socialism of F.D. Maurice and others is mocked by its opponents as 'muscular Christianity' Go to Maurice, F. D. (1805–72) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Religion Christianity United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Christmas issue of the Illustrated London News includes chromolithographs, introducing the era of colour journalism Go to chromolithograph in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Printing Arts Prints United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Tennyson publishes a long narrative poem, Maud, a section of which ('Come into the garden, Maud') becomes famous as a song Go to Tennyson, Alfred, 1st Baron (1809–92) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Anthony Trollope publishes The Warden, the first in his series of six Barsetshire novels Go to Trollope, Anthony (1815–82) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1856	The treaty of Paris ends the Crimean War, limiting Russia's special powers in relation to Turkey Go to Paris, treaty of (1856) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Crimean War Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Muslim empires Ottoman empire British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Empires Rulers and politicians Wars and Revolutions Britain Victoria and Albert complete their fairy-tale castle at Balmoral, adding greatly to the nation's romantic view of Scotland Go to Balmoral Castle in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Gothic Europe Britain English chemist William Henry Perkin accidentally creates the first synthetic die, aniline purple (now known as mauve) Go to Perkin, Sir William Henry in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1857	David Livingstone urges upon a Cambridge audience the high ideal of taking 'commerce and Christianity' into Africa Go to Livingstone, David (1813–73) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Religion Christianity Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain Russian exile Alexander Herzen, publishes in London a radical newspaper called Kolokol (The Bell) Go to Herzen, Alexander Ivanovich (1812–70) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Russia Britain Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke set off from Bagamoyo in their search for the source of the Nile Go to Burton, Sir Richard in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Exploration United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain In Tom Brown's Schooldays Thomas Hughes depicts the often brutal aspects of an English public school Go to Hughes, Thomas (1822–96) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Acts of exceptional valour in the Crimean War are rewarded with a new medal, the Victoria Cross, made from the metal of captured Russian guns Go to Victoria Cross in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1858	Palmerston's government collapses and Lord Derby heads another Conservative minority administration Go to Derby, Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley, 14th Earl of (1799–1869) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Burton and Speke reach Lake Tanganyika at Ujiji, a place later famous for the meeting between Livingstone and Stanley Go to Burton, Sir Richard in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Exploration United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain Brunel dies just before the maiden voyage of his gigantic final project, the luxury liner The Great Eastern Go to Great Eastern in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The India Act places India under the direct control of the British government, ending the rule of the East India Company Go to India Acts in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Mughal empire Muslim empires Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires Britain Charles Darwin is alarmed to receive in his morning post a paper by Alfred Russell Wallace, outlining very much his own theory of evolution Go to Wallace, Alfred Russel (1823–1913) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Lionel Nathan Rothschild becomes the first Jew to sit in Britain's House of Commons, taking his oath on the Old Testament Go to Rothschild Family in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Religion Judaism United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The stench in central London, rising from the polluted Thames in a hot summer, creates what becomes known as the Great Stink Go to great in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain US entrepreneur Cyrus W. Field succeeds in laying a telegraph cable across the Atlantic, but it fails after only a month Go to Atlantic Cable. in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Communication Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Britain An Irish branch of the US Fenians is established as the Irish Republican Brotherhood Go to Fenian movement in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Speke reaches Lake Victoria and guesses that it is probably the source of the Nile Go to Speke, John Hanning in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Exploration United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain
1859	Joseph Bazalgette is given the task of providing London with a desperately needed new system of sewers Go to great in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charles Darwin puts forward the theory of evolution in On the Origin of Species, the result of 20 years' research Go to Darwin, Charles (1809–82) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Science Life sciences United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Liberal leader Lord Palmerston returns to office as the British prime minister after the collapse of Derby's coalition government Go to Palmerston, 3rd Viscount in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain A 13-ton bell is installed above London's Houses of Parliament, soon giving its name (Big Ben) to both the clock and the clock-tower Go to Big Ben in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain In On Liberty John Stuart Mill makes the classic liberal case for the priority of the freedom of the individual Go to Mill, John Stuart (1806–73) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Philosophy United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Samuel Smiles provides an inspiring ideal of Victorian enterprise in Self-Help, a manual for ambitious young men Go to Smiles, Samuel (1812–1904) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Tennyson publishes the first part of Idylls of the King, a series of linked poems about Britain's mythical king Arthur Go to Tennyson, Alfred, 1st Baron Tennyson (1809–92) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charles Dickens publishes his French Revolution novel, A Tale of Two Cities Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Edward FitzGerald publishes The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, romantic translations of the work of the Persian poet Go to Fitzgerald, Edward (1809–83) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US artist James McNeill Whistler settles in London, which he makes his home for the rest of his life Go to Whistler, James Abbott McNeill (1834–1903) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1859 February	English author George Eliot wins fame with her first full-length novel, Adam Bede Go to Eliot, George in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1860	Florence Nightingale opens a training school for nurses in St Thomas's Hospital, establishing nursing as a profession Go to Nightingale, Florence (1820–1910) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charles Dickens begins serial publication of his novel "Great Expectations" (in book form 1861) Go to Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain George Eliot publishes The Mill on the Floss, her novel about the childhood of Maggie and Tom Tulliver Go to Eliot, George in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1861	English chemist and physicist William Crookes isolates a new element, thallium Go to Crookes, Sir William in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain An official National Eisteddfod is held for the first time in Wales, in Aberdare Go to eisteddfod in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Theatre United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Britain Prince Albert dies of typhoid, plunging Victoria into forty years of widowhood and deep mourning Go to Albert, prince consort (1819–61) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Mrs Henry Wood publishes her first novel, East Lynne, which becomes the basis of the most popular of all Victorian melodramas Go to East Lynne in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1862	Oxford mathematician Lewis Carroll tells 10-year-old Alice Liddell, on a boat trip, a story about her own adventures in Wonderland Go to Amaryllis in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1863	British architect George Gilbert Scott designs a memorial for Prince Albert in Kensington Gardens Go to Albert Memorial in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Gothic Europe Britain English author Charles Kingsley publishes an improving fantasy for young children, The Water-Babies Go to Water‐Babies, The: A Fairy Tale for a Land‐Baby in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Metropolitan Railway, the world's first to go underground, opens in London using steam trains between Paddington and Farringdon Street Go to London Underground in The Oxford Companion to Family and Local History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Steam Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain 48-year-old Julia Margaret Cameron is given a camera by her daughter, in the Isle of Wight, and decides to concentrate on portraits Go to Cameron, Julia Margaret (1815–79) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1864	The Marylebone Cricket Club, arbiter of cricket, finally rules that overarm bowling is legitimate Go to Marylebone Cricket Club in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The First International is established in London, with Karl Marx soon emerging as the association's leader Go to International1 in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Communism United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell presents to the Royal Society his discoveries in the field of electromagnetics, now known collectively as Maxwell's Equations Go to Maxwell's equations in A New Dictionary of Eponyms (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain
1865	English surgeon Joseph Lister introduces the era of antiseptic surgery, with the use of carbolic acid in the operating theatre Go to Lister, Joseph (1827–1912) in A Dictionary of Public Health (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Lewis Carroll publishes Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a development of the story he had told Alice Liddell three years earlier Go to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A committee to campaign for women's suffrage is formed in Manchester, the first of many in Britain Go to women's suffrage in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Palmerston dies in office, and is succeeded as leader of the Liberal government in Britain by his foreign secretary, Earl Russell Go to Russell, Lord John, 1st Earl Russell (1792–1878) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1866	A pressure group for penal reform in Britain is named after the great prison reformer John Howard Go to Howard, John (c. 1726–90) in The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Russell's government falls, and Lord Derby returns for the third time, but again briefly, as Britain's prime minister Go to Derby, Edward Stanley, 14th earl of (1799–1869) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Algernon Swinburne scandalizes Victorian Britain with his first collection, Poems and Ballads Go to Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1837–1909) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1867	Britain's new Reform Act extends the franchise to working men in British towns Go to Reform Acts in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The first volume of Das Kapital is completed by Marx in London and is published in Hamburg Go to Kapital, Das in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English German literature Politics Communism Protest and rebellion United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Germany Britain The world's first croquet tournament takes place in Evesham and is won by Walter Jones-Whitmore Go to croquet in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The Queensberry rules, named after the Marquess of Queensberry, introduce padded gloves in boxing, and rounds of three minutes Go to boxing in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1868	Benjamin Disraeli becomes British prime minister for the first time, at the head of a Conservative government, but only for a few months Go to Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Executions take place in public for the last time in London, being moved from outside Newgate Gaol to inside the prison Go to execution, public in The Oxford Dictionary of Local and Family History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Liberal leader William Ewart Gladstone becomes British prime minister, for the first of four times, and remains in office for six years Go to Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1869	English author Matthew Arnold publishes Culture and Anarchy, an influential collection of essays about contemporary society Go to Culture and Anarchy in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain British prime minister William Gladstone introduces a bill to disestablish the Anglican church in Ireland Go to Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Religion Christianity United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain The most famous of the three-masted tea-clippers, the Cutty Sark is launched at Dumbarton for service to and from China Go to Cutty Sark in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Travel and transport Technology United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1870	French artist Claude Monet, fleeing from the Franco-Prussian War, arrives in London Go to Monet, Claude (14 Nov. 1840) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting French painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles French art Europe France Britain Isaac Butt, an Irish MP at Westminster, founds the Home Rule association Go to Home Rule in Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Ireland Rulers and politicians Britain The all-round English cricketer W.G. Grace begins a 28-year career as captain of Gloucestershire Go to Grace, W. G. (1848–1915) in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1871	Whistler paints his mother and calls the picture Arrangement in Grey and Black Go to Whistler, James Abbott McNeill (1834–1903) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English actor Henry Irving plays what becomes one of his most famous parts, that of Mathias in the melodrama The Bells Go to Irving, Sir Henry (1838–1905) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Stanley, finding Livingstone at Ujiji, greets him with four words which become famous – 'Dr Livingstone, I presume' Go to Stanley, Sir Henry Morton (1841–1904) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Exploration United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain George Eliot publishes Middlemarch, in which Dorothea makes a disastrous marriage to the pedantic Edward Casaubon Go to Eliot, George in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Whistler begins to paint his Nocturnes, a revolutionary series of night-time images on the river Thames Go to Whistler, James McNeill (1834–1903) in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1872	The Ballot Act adds to the British electoral system the essential element of secrecy in voting Go to secret ballot in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Lewis Carroll publishes Through the Looking Glass, a second story of Alice's adventures Go to Carroll, Lewis in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1874	Conservative leader Benjamin Disraeli, at the age of 70, begins a 6-year term of office as Britain's prime minister Go to Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Major Walter Wingfield secures a patent for Sphairistike, a game he has developed at his home in Wales, from which lawn tennis evolves Go to lawn tennis in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Society Britain English author Thomas Hardy has his first success with his novel Far from the Madding Crowd Go to Far from the Madding Crowd in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1875	Charles Stewart Parnell takes his seat in the House of Commons at Westminster and immediately adds zest to the campaign for Home Rule Go to Parnell, Charles Stewart (1846–91) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain William Crookes invents the radiometer, in which light causes four vanes to rotate in a bulb containing gas at low pressure Go to Crookes, Sir William (1832–1919) in A Dictionary of Scientists (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain After spending much time in Europe in recent years, Henry James moves there permanently and settles first in Paris Go to James, Henry (1843–1916) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Benjamin Disraeli buys for Britain a controlling share in the Suez Canal, with money borrowed from Lionel Nathan de Rothschild Go to Rothschild, Lionel (1808–79) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Canals Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Society Rulers and politicians Britain An agreement is signed between France and Britain to cooperate in the construction of a tunnel beneath the Channel Go to Channel Tunnel in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Henry James's early novel Roderick Hudson is serialized in the Atlantic Monthly and is published in book form in 1876 Go to Roderick Hudson in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1876	The chaotic government finances of Egypt are placed under joint French and British control Go to Mixed Courts of Egypt in Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires Britain William Gladstone's pamphlet Bulgarian Horrors, protesting at massacre by the Turks, sells 200,000 copies within a month Go to Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Persecution and repression Turks United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Henry James moves to London, which remains his home for the next 22 years Go to James, Henry (1843–1916) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain India becomes the 'jewel in the crown' of Queen Victoria when Benjamin Disraeli secures for her the title Empress of India Go to Victoria (1819–1901) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Mughal empire British monarchs - from 1066 British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Empires Rulers and politicians Britain English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins develops a new verse form that he calls 'sprung rhythm' Go to sprung rhythm in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English cricketer W.G. Grace scores a record 344 runs, playing for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Kent at Canterbury Go to Grace, W. G. (1848–1915) in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Lewis Carroll publishes The Hunting of the Snark, a poem about a voyage in search of an elusive mythical creature Go to Carroll, Lewis in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1877	The first Test match is played in Melbourne between English and Australian cricket teams, with victory going to Australia Go to cricket in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Australia and Oceania Europe Society Australia Britain The first lawn-tennis championships are organized by the All-England Croquet Club at Wimbledon Go to Wimbledon in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1878	On a wave of jingoism Benjamin Disraeli sends six British ironclads, in support of Turkey, to confront the Russians near Istanbul Go to jingoism in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain William Crookes develops a special tube, now known as the Crookes tube, for the study of cathode rays Go to Crookes, Sir William (1832–1919) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English-born US photographer Eadweard Muybridge publishes closely linked photographs revealing how a horse goes through its paces Go to Muybridge, Eadweard (9 Apr. 1830) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Stanley agrees to work for Leopold II in opening up the Congo river to commerce Go to Leopold II (1835–1909) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Europe Society Empires Britain English physicist Joseph Swan demonstrates a practical electric light bulb, using an incandescent carbon filament in a vacuum Go to Swan, Sir Joseph Wilson (1828–1914) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain 21-year-old Joseph Conrad, a Polish subject, goes to sea with the British merchant navy Go to Conrad, Joseph (1857–1924) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1879	The ancient Irish game of hurling is formalized by the newly founded Irish Hurling Union Go to hurling in The Oxford Companion to Irish History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Society Britain English physicist Joseph Swan receives a patent for bromide paper, which becomes the standard material for printing photographs Go to Swan, Sir Joseph Wilson (1828–1914) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain An entire train, full of passengers, falls into the river Tay in Scotland when a bridge collapses in a winter gale Go to Tay bridge in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain Henry James's story Daisy Miller, about an American girl abroad, brings him a new readership Go to Daisy Miller: A Study in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1880	For the second time Gladstone replaces Disraeli as Britain's prime minister, following a Liberal election victory over the Conservatives Go to Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1881	The Tynwald in the Isle of Man becomes the first parliament to give women the vote Go to Keys, House of in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain London's new Savoy Theatre is the first public building in the world to be lit throughout by electricity Go to Savoy Theatre in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Aesthetic Movement and 'art for art's sake', attitudes personified above all by Whistler and Wilde, are widely mocked and satirized in Britain Go to Aesthetic movement in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Literature English literature Literature in English Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1882	Eadweard Muybridge projects slow-motion images of a trotting horse as a demonstration at London's Royal Institution Go to Muybridge, Eadweard (9 Apr. 1830) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Irish chief secretary Lord Frederick Cavendish and a colleague are assassinated in Phoenix Park in Dublin Go to Invincibles in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Terrorism and assassination United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain When Australia win the second Test match, in London, the Sporting Times declares that they will take home with them 'the ashes of English cricket' Go to Ashes, The in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Australia and Oceania Europe Society Australia Britain
1883	Lord Napier heads a Royal Commission to look into the condition of crofters after the Battle of the Braes in Skye Go to Highland Clearances in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain English polymath Francis Galton publishes Inquiries in Human Faculty, developing the theme of eugenics and coining the term Go to eugenics in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure story, Treasure Island, features Long John Silver and Ben Gunn Go to Treasure Island in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1884	The British empire is first described as a 'Commonwealth of Nations', by Lord Rosebery speaking in Australia Go to Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th earl of (1847–1929) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 British prime ministers - from 1830 Australia and Oceania Europe Empires Rulers and politicians Australia Britain English socialists, including Bernard Shaw and Sidney Webb, found the Fabian Society as part of a long-term political strategy Go to Fabian Society in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain A new Reform Act in Britain further reduces the financial threshold for voters in Britain, in effect extending the franchise to male workers in rural areas Go to Reform Acts in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Greenwich becomes accepted internationally as the prime meridian, or 0° longitude Go to prime meridian in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The newly founded Fabian Society publishes Manifesto by George Bernard Shaw Go to Fabian Society in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Gaelic Athletic Association is founded in Ireland to promote indigenous games such as hurling Go to GAA in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Society Britain US-born British inventor Hiram Maxim demonstrates the first prototype of his machine gun, using the recoil force to eject the spent cartridge and insert a new one Go to Maxim, Sir Hiram S. in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Inventions and discoveries War Weapons United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Britain Oxford University Press publishes the A volume of its New English Dictionary, which will take 37 years to reach Z Go to Oxford English Dictionary, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1885	Explorer and orientalist Richard Burton begins publication of his multi-volume translation from the Arabic of The Arabian Nights Go to Arabian Nights Entertainments, or The Thousand and One Nights in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Gladstone resigns as British prime minister, after a defeat on the budget, and is followed by a minority government headed by Conservative leader Lord Salisbury Go to Salisbury, Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoigne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of (1830–1903) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The American portrait-painter John Singer Sargent makes London his home and begins an immensely successful career Go to Sargent, John Singer (1856–1925) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1886	Gladstone becomes Britain's prime minister again, after joining forces with the Irish Nationalists to defeat Lord Salisbury's government Go to Irish Parliamentary Party in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Gladstone's bill promising Home Rule for Ireland splits the Liberal party in Britain's House of Commons Go to Home Rule, Irish in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Ireland Rulers and politicians Britain Robert Louis Stevenson introduces a dual personality in his novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Go to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Strange Case of in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The split in the Liberal party over Home Rule results in a defeat for Gladstone and the return of Lord Salisbury as Britain's prime minister Go to Liberal Unionists in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The Crofters' Holdings Act provides security of tenure and other safeguards for Highland crofters in Scotland Go to crofter in The Oxford Companion to Family and Local History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain The Home Rule campaign for Ireland prompts a Scottish Home Rule Association to fight in a related cause Go to Scottish National Party in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Ireland Rulers and politicians Britain Thomas Hardy publishes his novel The Mayor of Casterbridge, which begins with the future mayor, Michael Henchard selling his wife and child at a fair Go to Mayor of Casterbridge, The, a Story of Character in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Joseph Conrad becomes naturalized as a British subject and continues his career at sea in the far East Go to Conrad, Joseph (1857–1924) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Those in Britain's Liberal party opposing Home Rule for Ireland become a separate group under the name of Unionists Go to Liberal Unionists in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 Northern Ireland British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Ireland Rulers and politicians Britain
1887	Sherlock Holmes features in Conan Doyle's first novel, A Study in Scarlet Go to Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (1859–1930) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Queen Victoria's golden jubilee brings her back into the public's affection Go to Golden Jubilee (1887) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain A gathering of leaders from the British empire holds a colonial conference in London to coincide with Queen Victoria's jubilee Go to imperial conferences in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Europe Empires Britain Eadweard Muybridge publishes Animal Locomotion, a folio volume containing 781 pages of photographs Go to Muybridge, Eadweard (9 Apr. 1830) in The Oxford Dictionary of Art (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1888	William Lever builds Port Sunlight as a model village for workers in his Sunlight Soap factory Go to Lever, William Hesketh, 1st Viscount Leverhulme of the Western Isles (1851–1925) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain An undetected murderer, slitting the throats of seven London prostitutes, becomes known by the public as Jack the Ripper Go to Jack the Ripper in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1889	23-year-old Irish author William Butler Yeats publishes his first volume of poems, The Wanderings of Oisin Go to Wanderings of Oisin, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain English musicologist George Grove completes publication of his four-volume Dictionary of Music and Musicians Go to Grove, Sir George (1820–1900) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charles Steward Parnell is cited as co-respondent in a divorce case brought against Kitty O'Shea Go to Parnell, Charles Stewart (1846–91) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain The Fabian Society publishes Essays in Socialisman influential volume of essays edited by Bernard Shaw Go to Fabian Society in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1890	A vast cantilever bridge, spanning a mile of water, carries the railway across the Firth of Forth in Scotland Go to Forth Bridge [Places] in The Oxford Dictionary of Reference and Allusion (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain The world's first electric underground railway passes under the Thames, linking the City of London and Stockwell Go to London Underground in The Oxford Companion to Family and Local History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Scottish anthropologist James Frazer publishes The Golden Bough, a massive compilation of contemporary knowledge about ritual and religious custom Go to Frazer, Sir James George (1854–1941) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Religion United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain 9-year-old Daisy Ashford imagines an adult romance and high society in The Young Visiters Go to Ashford, Daisy (1881–1972) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1891	Britain cedes the tiny island of Heligoland to Germany in return for vast areas of Africa Go to Heligoland (Schleswig-Holstein/Germany) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa German empire Africa Europe Germany Empires Britain A Gaelic pressure group, the Highland Association, is founded to preserve the indigenous poetry and music of Scotland Go to Mod, Royal National in The Oxford Companion to Scottish History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Literature English literature Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Oscar Wilde publishes his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray in which the ever-youthful hero's portrait grows old and ugly Go to Wilde, Oscar (1854–1900) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Thomas Hardy publishes his novel Tess of the Durbervilles, with a dramatic finale at Stonehenge Go to Tess of the D'Urbervilles; A Pure Woman in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1892	Oscar Wilde's comedy Lady Windermere's Fan is a great success with audiences in London's St. James Theatre Go to Lady Windermere's Fan in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain W.B. Yeats founds the National Literary Society in Dublin, with Douglas Hyde as its first president Go to literary revival in The Oxford Companion to Irish History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain W.B. Yeats publishes a short play The Countess Cathleen, his first contribution to Irish poetic drama Go to Countess Cathleen, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Drama United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Bernard Shaw's first play, Widowers' Houses, deals with the serious social problem of slum landlords Go to Widowers' Houses in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Keir Hardie wins the London seat of West Ham, becoming the first Labour member of the House of Commons Go to Hardie, Keir (b. 15 Aug. 1856) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Gladstone, becoming prime minister for the fourth time, is described by the queen as 'an old, wild and incomprehensible man of eighty two and a half' Go to Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The Falkland Islands, by now occupied by some 2000 settlers, become a British colony Go to Falkland Islands in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Falkland Islands Europe Empires Britain Mr Pooter is the suburban anti-hero of the The Diary of a Nobody, by George and Weedon Grossmith Go to Diary of a Nobody, The in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1893	An aluminium statue of Eros, by English sculptor Alfred Gilbert, is unveiled in Piccadilly Circus Go to Gilbert, Sir Alfred (12 Aug 1854) in The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Sculpture British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Independent Labour Party, later changing its name to the Labour Party, is founded in Britain by the trade unionist Keir Hardie Go to Independent Labour Party in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Gladstone finally gets a Home Rule bill through the Commons, only to have it rejected in the Lords Go to Home Rule in Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Ireland Rulers and politicians Britain Frank Hornby patents in Liverpool his Meccano construction system for children Go to Meccano (1901) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Gaelic League is founded to restore the use of Gaelic as Ireland's spoken language Go to Gaelic League in Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Society Britain The Scottish game of shinty is provided with a standardized set of rules Go to shinty in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain
1894	Gladstone retires as Britain's prime minister and his place is taken by his foreign secretary, Lord Rosebery Go to Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of (1847–1929) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain French-born artist and author George du Maurier publishes his novel Trilby Go to Trilby in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book surrounds the child Mowgli with a collection of vivid animal guardians Go to Jungle Book, The (1894) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain London's Tower Bridge raises its roadway for the first time to let a ship pass up the Thames Go to Tower in Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase & Fable (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Scottish physicist William Ramsay isolates argon, following Rayleigh's discovery that an undiscovered gas combines with nitrogen in the air Go to argon in A Dictionary of Chemistry (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, is convicted of treason and sent to Devil's Island in French Guiana Go to Dreyfus case in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Judaism United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Britain
1895	Oscar Wilde's most brilliant comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest is performed in London's St. James Theatre Go to Importance of Being Earnest, The: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Scottish chemist William Ramsay isolates the element helium Go to Ramsay, Sir William (1852–1916) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Oscar Wilde loses a libel case that he has brought against the marquess of Queensberry for describing him as a sodomite Go to Queensberry, John Sholto Douglas, 9th marquis of (1844–1900) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Lord Rosebery's Liberal government suffers a defeat in the House of Commons, and Lord Salisbury returns as Britain's prime minister Go to Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of (1847–1929) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Oscar Wilde is sent to Reading Gaol to serve a two-year sentence with hard labour after being convicted of homosexuality Go to Wilde, Oscar (1854–1900) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain H.G. Wells publishes The Time Machine, a story about a Time Traveller whose first stop on his journey is the year 802701 Go to Wells, H. G. (1866–1946) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Gwen John persuades a reluctant father to allow her to follow her younger brother to the Slade School of Art in London Go to John, brother and sister in The Oxford Companion to Western Art (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A promenade concert, presented by Henry Wood in London's Queen's Hall, turns out to be the beginning of a very long tradition Go to Promenade Concerts in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1896	English poet A.E. Housman publishes his first collection, A Shropshire Lad Go to Housman, A. E. (1859–1936) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain 22-year-old Guglielmo Marconi takes out a patent in Britain for the invention of radio Go to Marconi, Guglielmo (1874–1937) in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Communication Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1897	English physicist Joseph John Thomson, working at the Cavendish laboratory in Cambridge, discovers the existence of the electron Go to Thomson, Sir Joseph John (1856–1940) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Diamond Jubilee bonfires and fireworks all round Britain celebrate Victoria's sixty years on the throne Go to Diamond Jubilee (1897) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Turbinia, powered by the newly invented Parsons steam turbine, breaks the speed record when Queen Victoria reviews her fleet Go to Parsons, Sir Charles Algernon (1854–1931) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Steam Travel and transport Technology Engineering United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Somerset Maugham publishes his first novel, Liza of Lambeth, based on the London life he has observed as a medical student Go to Maugham, W. Somerset (1874–1965) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English author Bram Stoker publishes Dracula, his gothic tale of vampirism in Transylvania Go to Dracula in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British physician Ronald Ross identifies the Anopheles mosquito as the carrier of malaria Go to Ross, Ronald (1857–1932) in A Dictionary of Public Health (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1898	British chemists William Ramsay and Morris Travers isolate the element Kr Go to krypton in A Dictionary of Chemistry (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Henry James moves from London to Lamb House in Rye, Sussex, which remains his home for the rest of his life Go to James, Henry (1843–1916) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British chemists William Ramsay and Morris Travers isolate the element neon Go to neon in A Dictionary of Chemistry (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British chemists William Ramsay and Morris Travers isolate the element xenon Go to xenon in A Dictionary of Chemistry (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain H.G. Wells publishes his science-fiction novel The War of the Worlds, in which Martians arrive in a rocket to invade earth Go to War of the Worlds, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Marconi launches a factory in Chelmsford, England, for the purpose of manufacturing radios ('wirelesses' in the language of the time) Go to Marconi, Guglielmo (1874–1937) in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain English town-planner Ebenezer Howard puts forward a Utopian scheme in Tomorrow a Peaceful Path to Real Reform Go to Howard, Sir Ebenezer (1850–1928) in A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Henry James publishes The Turn of the Screw in a collection of short stories Go to Turn of the Screw, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1899	Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi succeeds in transmitting a wireless telegraph message across the English Channel Go to Marconi, Guglielmo (1874–1937) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Technology Communication Inventions and discoveries United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Boer War breaks out, ostensibly over the rights of British settlers in the Transvaal Go to Boer Wars (1880–81) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Empires Britain Edward Elgar teases with the word 'enigma' printed at the head of his orchestral Variations on an Original Theme Go to ‘Enigma’ Variations in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Within a single 'Black Week' the British forces in South Africa suffer three defeats, at Stromberg, Magersfontein and Colenso Go to Magersfontein, battle of (1899) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 War Battles United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Ranjitsinhji becomes the first cricketer to score 3000 runs in a single season Go to Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji, Kumar Shri, Maharajah Jam Sahib of Nawanagar (1872–1933) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain E. Nesbit publishes The Story of the Treasure Seekers, introducing the Bastable family who feature in several of her books for children Go to Nesbit, E. (1858–1924) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1900	Isadora Duncan dances professionally for the first time in Europe in London's Lyceum Theatre Go to Duncan, Isadora (1877–1927) in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Performing arts Dance United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Scottish music-hall artist Harry Lauder makes his first London appearance at Gatti's music hall in Westminster Go to Lauder, Sir Harry MacLennan (1870–1950) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain David Belasco's play Madame Butterfly has its premiere in New York, and is subsequently seen in London by Giacomo Puccini Go to Madame Butterfly in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Britain North America United States The Conservatives win an increased majority during the Boer War, in what becomes known as the 'khaki election' Go to Salisbury, Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoigne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of (1830–1903) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Politics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Keir Hardie is returned to parliament for Merthyr Tydfil, beginning a long and close link between the Labour party and Wales. Go to Hardie, (James) Keir (1856–1915) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Britain Charles Stewart Rolls wins the Automobile Club's Thousand Mile Trial in a 12 horse-power Panhard Go to Rolls, Charles Stewart (1877–1910) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The Irish Parliamentary Party, which split after the Parnell divorce case, reunites under the leadership of John Redmond Go to Redmond, John Edward (b. 1 Sept. 1856) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Edward Elgar writes the oratorio Dream of Gerontius, setting Cardinal Newman's poem of the same title Go to Dream of Gerontius, The in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Performing arts Music United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Joseph Conrad publishes his novel Lord Jim about a life of failure and redemption in the far East Go to Lord Jim in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Welsh painter Augustus John becomes Britain's most famous bohemian Go to John, Augustus Edwin (1878–1961) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Arts Painting British painting British art United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Britain
1901	Queen Victoria dies at Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, after 63 years on the throne Go to Victoria (1819–1901) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Victorian era 1900s 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Edward VII is already 59 when he succeeds his mother, Victoria, as Britain's monarch Go to Edward VII (1841–1910) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era Victorian era 1900s 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Charles Voysey completes a house for himself, The Orchard, at Chorley Wood in Hertfordshire Go to Voysey, Charles Francis Annesley (1857–1941) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Architecture British architecture War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Beatrix Potter publishes at her own expense The Tale of Peter Rabbit Go to Tale of Peter Rabbit, The (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rudyard Kipling's experiences of India are put to good use in his novel Kim Go to Kim in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The British batsman C.B. Fry hits a record six consecutive centuries in first-class cricket Go to Fry, C. B. (1872–1956) in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century War Sports and games United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The first of Edward Elgar's five Pomp and Circumstance marches has a trio section that becomes "Land of Hope and Glory" Go to Pomp and Circumstance in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Music War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Frederick Delius completes his opera A Village Romeo and Juliet, but it is not performed until 1907 in Berlin Go to Village Romeo and Juliet, A in A Dictionary of Opera Characters (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Music War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Charles Rennie Mackintosh designs the interior of Miss Cranston's Ingram Street Tea Rooms in Glasgow Go to Mackintosh, Charles Rennie (1868–1928) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Arts Decorative arts War British art United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Robert Falcon Scott sets off in the Discovery on his first expedition to the Antarctic Go to Scott, Robert Falcon (1868–1912) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Exploration War United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain The 1901 census reveals that the population of the United Kingdom has almost doubled in 50 years, to 38 million Go to census in A Dictionary of Sociology (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Social and domestic War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Frank Hornby begins to market in Britain his immensely successful Meccano kits Go to Meccano (1901) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Social and domestic War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Guglielmo Marconi transmits a radio message in Morse code 2100 miles, from Poldhu in Cornwall to St John's in Newfoundland Go to Marconi, Guglielmo (1874–1937) in A Dictionary of Physics (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Technology Communication War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America Canada
1902	Ebenezer Howard republishes his earlier book of 1898 as Garden Cities of Tomorrow Go to garden city movement in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Arts War British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Rudyard Kipling publishes his Just So Stories for Little Children Go to Just So Stories for Little Children (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A.E. Kennelly and Oliver Heaviside independently see the link between the atmosphere and the behaviour of radio waves Go to Heaviside, Oliver (1850–1925) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Science Physics United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain North America United States The play Cathleen ni Houlihan, by W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory, fosters Irish nationalism Go to Cathleen ni Houlihan in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Drama War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Irish politician Arthur Griffith launches Sinn Fein, as an organization campaigning for a strong and independent Ireland Go to Sinn Fein in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Land of Hope and Glory' features in its lasting form as the finale of Elgar's Coronation Ode for Edward VII Go to Coronation Ode in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Music War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The Tale of Peter Rabbit is published commercially, a year after being first printed by Beatrix Potter at her own expense Go to Tale of Peter Rabbit, The (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Lord Salisbury resigns as British prime minister and is succeeded by his nephew, A.J. Balfour Go to Balfour, Arthur James, 1st Earl of (1848–1930) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Politics War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Augustus John meets his favourite subject Dorothy McNeill, to whom he gives the Gypsy name Dorelia Go to John, Augustus Edwin (1878–1961) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Arts Painting British painting War British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain John Masefield's poem 'Sea Fever' is published in Salt-Water Ballads Go to Masefield, John (1878–1967) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles begins publication in serial form Go to Hound of the Baskervilles, The: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (1902) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain W.B. Yeats heads a group of writers and directors in establishing the Irish National Theatre Society Go to Irish National Dramatic Society in The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Henry James publishes the first of his three last novels, The Wings of the Dove Go to Wings of the Dove, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Joseph Conrad publishes a collection of stories including Heart of Darkness, a sinister tale based partly on his own journey up the Congo Go to ‘Heart of Darkness’ in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The English painter G.F. Watts is made a founding member of the Order of Merit Go to Merit, Order of in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Arts War British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1903	Emmeline Pankhurst founds the Women's Social and Political Union to fight for women's political rights in the UK Go to Pankhurst, Emmeline (b. 4 July 1858) in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Erskine Childers has a best-seller in The Riddle of the Sands, a thriller about a planned German invasion of Britain Go to Childers, Erskine (1870–1922) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Henry James publishes The Ambassadors, the second of his three last novels written in rapid succession Go to Ambassadors, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Ernest Rutherford and Frederick Soddy identify the phenomenon of radioactive half-life Go to half-life in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Science Physics War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain British philosopher G.E. Moore publishes Principia Ethica, an attempt to apply logic to ethics Go to Moore, G. E. (1873–1958) in The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Philosophy War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Britain's first national motor show is organized at the Crystal Palace, moving two years later to Olympia Go to Crystal Palace in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Charles Rennie Mackintosh completes the Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow for Miss Cranston Go to Mackintosh, Charles Rennie (1868–1928) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Arts Decorative arts War British art United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Work begins on England's first garden city, at Letchworth, based on the theories of Ebenezer Howard Go to garden city movement in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Arts War British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1904	Charles Stewart Rolls, a keen driver, meets electrical engineer Henry Royce in a historic encounter in Manchester Go to Royce, Sir (Frederick) Henry (1863–1933) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Technology Engineering War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Joseph Conrad publishes his novel Nostromo, about a revolution in South America and a fatal horde of silver Go to Nostromo in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Latin America South America France and Britain sign an Entente Cordiale, resolving several colonial disputes and laying the foundation for a new alliance Go to entente cordiale (1904) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Politics War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Britain Henry James publishes his last completed novel, The Golden Bowl Go to Golden Bowl, The in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The publisher Walter Blackie moves into Hill House at Helensburgh, designed for him by Charles Rennie Mackintosh Go to Mackintosh, Charles Rennie (1868–1928) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Architecture British architecture War United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain J.M Barrie's play for children Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up has its premiere in London Go to Peter Pan in The Oxford Dictionary of Plays (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Under the pseudonym Saki, H.H. Munro publishes Reginald, his first volume of short stories Go to Reginald (1904) in The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Dublin's Abbey Theatre opens as a new home for the Irish National Theatre Society Go to Abbey Theatre, Dublin in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1905	The American sculptor Jacob Epstein moves from New York to settle in London Go to Epstein, Sir Jacob (1880–1959) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Arts Sculpture British art United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles American art Europe Britain North America United States The Bloomsbury Group gathers for informal evenings at the family home of Virginia and Vanessa Stephens (later Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell) Go to Bloomsbury Group in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Arts Literature English literature Literature in English War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Henry Wood sets 'Rule Britannia' in his Fantasia on British Sea Songs, providing a traditional favourite for the last night of the Proms Go to Fantasia on British Sea Songs in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts Music War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain English engineer Herbert Austin sets up a factory to manufacture cars at Longbridge, south of Birmingham Go to Austin, Herbert (1866–1941) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Technology Engineering War United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe

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