Victorian era

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Timeline: Victorian era

Years: 1837 - 1901	Subject: History, modern history (1700 to 1945)
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191738012

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Year	Event
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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Steam Travel and transport Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Steam Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1839	The British seize the strategic port of Aden and administer it as a province annexed to India Go to Aden in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 Asia West Asia Europe Empires A British army invades Afghanistan and installs a puppet ruler, Shuja Shah, as the Afghan amir Go to Anglo‐Afghan Wars in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 Asia Central Asia Afghanistan Europe Empires British troops invade China after the Chinese authorities seize and destroy the opium stocks of British merchants in Canton Go to Opium Wars (1839–42) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 Asia East Asia China Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Technology Communication Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography Technology Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Travel and transport Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Britain sends four naval ships up the river Niger to make anti-slavery treaties with local kings Go to Buxton, Thomas Fowell (1786–1845) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Slavery British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Germany Society Empires
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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The British abandon Kabul, losing most of the garrison force in the withdrawal to India and bringing to an end the first Anglo-Afghan war Go to Anglo‐Afghan Wars in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 Asia Central Asia Afghanistan Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Communism Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The British take control of the existing Boer republic and proclaim Natal a British protectorate Go to Natal in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Sculpture British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Steam Travel and transport Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Religion Christianity Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Exploration Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Society Britain The first Anglo-Sikh war breaks out between Sikh forces in the Punjab and encroaching forces of Britain's East India Company Go to Sikh Wars (1845–49) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century War British empire European empires from 1415 Mughal empire Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Communism Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1846	The first Anglo-Sikh war ends with the Treaty of Lahore, by which Jammu and Kashmir are ceded to the British Go to Sikh Wars (1845–49) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics War British empire European empires from 1415 Mughal empire Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Migration Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Communism Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Harry Smith annexes for Britain the land between the Orange and Vaal rivers, calling it the Orange River Sovereignty Go to Free State in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Prints British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The second Anglo-Sikh war begins when a British army invades the Punjab to suppress a local uprising Go to Sikh Wars (1845–49) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century War British empire European empires from 1415 Mughal empire Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A British victory at the Battle of Gujarat effectively ends the second Anglo-Sikh war, and is followed by annexation of the Punjab Go to Sikh Wars (1845–49) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 Mughal empire Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Prints British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Communism Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Vancouver Island is given the status of a British crown colony, to be followed by British Columbia in 1858 Go to Vancouver Island in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America Canada 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The British government buys the Danish fortresses on the Gold Coast, including Christiansborg castle in Accra Go to Ghana in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Denmark Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography Technology Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Australian gold rush begins with the discovery of gold fields at Ballarat and a few months later at Bendigo Go to gold rushes in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Commerce and industry British empire Australia and Oceania Society Empires Australia 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1853	David Livingstone makes a heroic six-month journey from the Zambezi river to the west coast of Africa Go to Livingstone, David (1813–73) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Exploration British empire Africa South Africa Society Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine Technology Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe France Britain
1854	The Boers establish the Orange Free State as an independent republic, with its own custom-built constitution Go to Free State in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences Medicine Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 War Turks Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 War Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine War Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 War Battles Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine War Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography War Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Exploration Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Printing Arts Prints War Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Religion Christianity Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Printing Arts Prints Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics War Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Religion Christianity Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Exploration Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain Animal fat on a new issue of cartridges sparks off the Indian Mutiny, also know as the First War of Indian Independence Go to Indian Mutiny (1857–58) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Protest and rebellion War European empires from 1415 Mughal empire Muslim empires Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires The Boers of the southern Transvaal declare independence as the South African Republic Go to South Africa, Republic of in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain After being besieged for five months in Lucknow, the remnants of the British garrison finally escape Go to Lucknow in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Protest and rebellion War European empires from 1415 Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 War Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Exploration Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain Lucknow is retaken by the British, nearly a year after it fell to the rebels Go to Lucknow in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Protest and rebellion War European empires from 1415 Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Travel and transport Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The end of the Indian Mutiny is followed by brutal British retaliation Go to Indian Mutiny (1857–58) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Protest and rebellion War European empires from 1415 Mughal empire Muslim empires Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Religion Judaism Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Communication Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II, is deposed by the British and exiled to Rangoon, in Burma Go to Mogul Empire (1526–1857) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Dynasties and royalty European empires from 1415 Mughal empire Muslim empires Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Exploration Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Science Life sciences Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Philosophy Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1861	Lagos, on the coast of Nigeria, is annexed as a British colony when the royal family prove unable or unwilling to end the slave trade Go to Lagos in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization Slavery British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Germany Society Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Theatre Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1862	Speke and Grant find the Ripon Falls, over which the headwater of the Nile flows from Lake Tanganyika Go to Speke, John Hanning (1827–1864) in Encyclopedia of Africa (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Exploration British empire Africa East Africa Society Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain John McDouall Stuart reaches the north coast of Australia at Van Diemen's Gulf seven months after setting off from Adelaide Go to Stuart, John McDouall (1815–66) in The Oxford Companion to Australian History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Exploration British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Europe Society Empires Australia The bones of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills are brought back to Melbourne after the heroic failure of their attempt to cross Australia Go to Wills, Robert O'Hara, and William, explorers in The Oxford Companion to World Exploration (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Exploration British empire Australia and Oceania Society Empires Australia
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 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Steam Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Communism Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain The British North America Act, acknowledging the fears of French Catholics in Canada, guarantees the rights of "dissentient schools" Go to British North America Act (1867) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century British empire Empires North America Canada 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English German literature Politics Communism Protest and rebellion Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Four former colonies (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec) unite to form the new nation of Canada with Ottawa as the capital Go to dominion in The Oxford Companion to Canadian History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics British empire Empires North America Canada The Canadian nation is called the Dominion of Canada – the first example of 'dominion status' Go to dominion in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America Canada 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Britain annexes Basutoland (now Lesotho), the kingdom of the Sotho leader Moshoeshoe Go to Lesotho in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain An uprising against Spanish rule in Cuba sparks off a Ten Years' War Go to Cuban War of Independence in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Protest and rebellion War European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Empires Latin America Caribbean Cuba 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Religion Christianity Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain The territory of the Hudson's Bay Company is transferred to the new state of Canada Go to Hudson's Bay Company in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics British empire Empires North America Canada Britain, France and Italy take joint control of the finances of a bankrupt Tunisia Go to imperialism in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa French empire Africa North Africa Europe Empires The proprietor of the New York Herald gives Henry Morton Stanley a very concise commission – 'Find Livingstone' Go to Livingstone, David (1813–73) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Exploration British empire Africa South Africa Society Empires British explorer Samuel Baker annexes the southern Sudan, or Equatoria, on behalf of the khedive of Egypt Go to Baker, Sir Samuel White (1821–93) in The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 Africa East Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Travel and transport Technology Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting French painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1871	18-year-old English entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes, on a temporary visit to South Africa, arrives in the new diamond town of Kimberley Go to Rhodes, Cecil (1853–1902) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Exploration Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Society Britain The southern region of present-day Ghana becomes a British colony, to be known as the Gold Coast Go to Ghana in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Empires Stanley sets off from Bagamoyo, intending to resume the exploration of central Africa where Livingstone left off Go to Stanley, Sir Henry Morton (1841–1904) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Exploration British empire Africa Central Africa East Africa Society Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Canals Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Persecution and repression Turks Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Stanley passes Nyangwe on the Lualaba, the furthest point down the Congo river system reached by Livingstone Go to Stanley, Sir Henry Morton (1841–1904) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Exploration British empire Africa Central Africa East Africa Society Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Leopold II hosts a conference in Brussels on the subject of opening up the African continent Go to Brussels Geographical Conference in The Oxford Companion to World Exploration (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Europe Belgium Empires
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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Australia and Oceania Europe Society Australia Britain Britain annexes the Boer republic in the Transvaal Go to Transvaal in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain Stanley completes his exploration of the Congo, reaching the Atlantic coast at Boma after a three-year journey Go to Stanley, Sir Henry Morton (1841–1904) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Exploration British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Central Africa East Africa Europe Society Empires
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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Europe Society Empires Britain The Ten Years' War ends in Cuba, with Spain promising extensive reforms including the abolition of slavery Go to Cuban War of Independence in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Slavery War European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Society Empires Latin America Caribbean Cuba Three British armies invade Afghanistan, beginning the second Anglo-Afghan War Go to Anglo‐Afghan Wars in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 Asia Central Asia Afghanistan Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1879	The British find a pretext to march into the territory ruled by Cetshwayo, thus launching the Zulu War Go to Zulu War (1879) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires Zulu tribesmen surprise and annihilate a British army encamped near Isandhlwana Go to Isandhlwana, Battle of (22 January 1879) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires Immediately after Isandhlwana a tiny British garrison at Rorke's Drift fights off an overwhelming Zulu attack Go to Isandhlwana, Battle of (22 January 1879) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography Technology Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain George Goldie and British traders on the Niger form the United African Company (later the Royal Niger Company) to consolidate their interests Go to Concessionary Companies in Africa in Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Commerce and industry British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Germany Society Empires The British destruction of Cetshwayo's kraal at Ulundi ends the Zulu War Go to Ulundi, battle of (1879) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain
1881	The Boers inflict a convincing defeat on a British army at Majuba, in the Transvaal Go to Majuba Hill, battle of (1881) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century War Battles British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The British withdraw from Afghanistan, having achieved nothing in the Second Anglo-Afghan War Go to Anglo‐Afghan Wars in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 Asia Central Asia Afghanistan Europe Empires Stanley finds Brazza's French tricolor already flying on the north bank of the Congo, on the site of what later becomes Brazzaville Go to Brazza, Pierre Savorgnan de (1852–1905) in Encyclopedia of Africa (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Central Africa East Africa Europe Society Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Literature English literature Literature in English Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Stanley establishes a foothold for Leopold II on the southern bank of the Congo, at a site which he names Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) 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 Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Central Africa East Africa Europe Society Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Terrorism and assassination Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Anti-western riots in Alexandria result in many deaths and provoke a British invasion Go to Arabi Pasha (1839–1911) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization Alexandria British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa North Africa Egypt Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Mohammed Ahmed, proclaiming himself the Mahdi, defeats three Egyptian armies in the Sudan Go to Mahdi in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire Africa East Africa Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Great Britain - from 1707 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 General Gordon marches south to protect Khartoum from the advancing forces of the Mahdi Go to Gordon, Charles George (1833–85) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires The Boer republic in the Transvaal regains its independence from Britain Go to Kruger, Paul (1825–1904) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Society Britain British general Garnet Wolseley sails from London on a mission to rescue Gordon, trapped by the Mahdi in Khartoum Go to Gordon relief expedition (1884–5) in The Oxford Companion to Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires Bismarck invites the European powers to a West Africa Conference in Berlin Go to Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 in Encyclopedia of Africa (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa German empire Africa West Africa Europe Germany Empires Spain begins to colonize the Western Sahara, subsequently known as the Spanish Sahara Go to Western Sahara in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Spanish empire Africa North Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1885	Britain annexes Bechuanaland as a protectorate, to secure the route north from the Cape into central Africa Go to Botswana in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Ireland Rulers and politicians Britain Germany and Britain define neighbouring spheres of interest in east Africa Go to Africa, partition of in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa German empire Africa East Africa Europe Empires The German and British agreement in east Africa creates the present-day boundary between Tanzania and Kenya Go to Scramble for Africa in Encyclopedia of Africa (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa German empire Africa East Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Photography British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The Ndebele chieftain, Lobengula, grants Rhodes mining rights in what is now Zimbabwe Go to British South Africa Company in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Zimbabwe Africa South Africa Europe Society Empires The Imperial British East Africa Company is given a charter to administer Kenya and Uganda Go to Concessionary Companies in Africa in Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1889	Cecil Rhodes forms the British South Africa Company to push British commerce and imperial control further north Go to British South Africa Company in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Society Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain France and Britain agree colonial boundaries for Senegal and Gambia in west Africa Go to Gambia, The in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa French empire Africa West Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Travel and transport Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain Cecil Rhodes sends colonists to settle the newly won colony of Rhodesia Go to Rhodesia in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Zimbabwe Africa South Africa Europe Empires Zanzibar, under its Arab sultan, is declared a British protectorate Go to Zanzibar in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Social and domestic Travel and transport Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Religion Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1891	Rhodes wins the right to administer the region from the Zambezi up to Lake Tanganyika, forming present-day Zambia Go to Rhodesia in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Literature English literature Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1892	Frederick Lugard's Maxim machine gun settles a Protestant-Catholic clash in Kampala, the capital of Buganda 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 Politics Conquest and colonization Weapons British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Drama Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Conquest and colonization Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Sculpture British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British prime ministers - from 1830 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain Leander Jameson, finding a pretext for war, drives Lobengula out of his kingdom in Rhodesia Go to Lobengula (c. 1836–94) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Zimbabwe Africa South Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Mahatma Gandhi, travelling with a first-class ticket, is forcibly ejected from the carriage at Pietermaritzburg because of his colour Go to Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand (1869–1948) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Persecution and repression British empire Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Empires The British Central African Protectorate is set up in the region of present-day Malawi Go to Malawi in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Social and domestic Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Judaism Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Theatre Literature English literature Literature in English Drama Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The territory south of the Zambezi is given the name Rhodesia, in honour of the man who has colonized it Go to Rhodesia in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Zimbabwe Africa South Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Britain Khama III, the king of Bechuanaland, travels to London to demand the continuing protection of the British crown Go to Khama III (1837?–1923) in Encyclopedia of Africa (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The British government takes responsibility for Kenya, as the East Africa Protectorate Go to Kenya in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires Leander Jameson leads a disastrous raid into the Transvaal, in an attempt to topple Paul Kruger's government Go to Jameson Raid (1895) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1896	Cecil Rhodes' involvement with the Jameson raid forces his resignation as the Cape Colony prime minister Go to Jameson Raid (1895) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires Britain unites Buganda and three other kingdoms into the single Uganda Protectorate Go to Uganda in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Poetry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Communication Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1897	The Spanish governor in Cuba is recalled to Spain, for pioneering the concept of the concentration camp Go to concentration camp in The Oxford Companion to Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Empires Latin America Caribbean Cuba Zululand, annexed by Britain in 1887, is now merged with the colony of Natal Go to Zululand (KwaZulu-Natal/South Africa) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires Paul Kruger, prime minister of the Transvaal, forms an alliance with the other Boer republic, the Orange Free State Go to Kruger, Paul (1825–1904) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Physics Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The UK colonial secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, appoints enthusiastic imperialist Alfred Milner as high commissioner in South Africa Go to Milner, Alfred (1854–1925) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires The British burn Benin City in a punitive expedition after members of a British delegation are murdered Go to Benin, Kingdom of in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Politics Dynasties and royalty Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Steam Travel and transport Technology Engineering Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Medicine Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1898	The US battleship Maine is blown up in Havana harbour, sparking off the Spanish-American War Go to Spanish–American War (1898) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century War European empires from 1415 Spanish empire US presidents Europe Empires Rulers and politicians Latin America Caribbean Cuba 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Theodore Roosevelt fights against the Spanish in Cuba with a volunteer regiment of cavalry, the Rough Riders Go to Rough Riders in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century War European empires from 1415 US presidents Europe Empires Rulers and politicians Latin America Caribbean Cuba 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Science Chemistry Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain French and British forces meet at Fashoda, in a potentially explosive incident in the scramble for Africa Go to Fashoda crisis (1898) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa French empire Africa East Africa Europe Empires Kitchener's victory at Omdurman brings to an end thirteen years of rule in Sudan by followers of the Mahdi Go to Omdurman, battle of (2 September 1898) in The Oxford Companion to Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires In the Treaty of Paris, ending the Spanish-American War, Spain cedes Puerto Rico and Cuba to the USA Go to Paris, Treaty of (1898) in The Oxford Companion to American Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics War European empires from 1415 Spanish empire US presidents Europe Spain Empires Rulers and politicians Latin America Caribbean Cuba North America United States The agreement ending the Spanish-American War includes Spain selling the Philippines to the USA for a payment of $20 million Go to Paris, Treaty of (1898) in The Oxford Companion to American Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics War European empires from 1415 Spanish empire US presidents Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Europe Empires Rulers and politicians North America United States 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Commerce and industry Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Architecture British architecture Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1899	The Sudan begins half a century of supposedly joint rule by Britain and Egypt Go to Sudan in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 Technology Communication Inventions and discoveries Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Mohammed ibn Abdullah (the Mad Mullah in British eyes) leads an uprising in British Somaliland Go to Hasan, Muhammad Abdille Sayyid (1864–1920) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 War Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Performing arts Music Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 War Battles Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Performing arts Dance Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Paul Kruger flees after the British take Pretoria and annexe both the Boer republics Go to Kruger, Stephanus Johannes Paulus (1825–1904) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 1900s 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Performing arts Theatre Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Politics Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Sports and games Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain The British government assumes direct responsibility for the entire region of Nigeria, previously entrusted to a commercial company Go to Nigeria in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century 1900s 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Germany Empires 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Politics Democracy and dissent Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Performing arts Music Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Literature English literature Literature in English Fiction Great Britain - from 1707 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 Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Arts Painting British painting British art Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Wales British Isles Europe Britain
1901	Six separate Australian colonies combine to form the independent Commonwealth of Australia Go to Australia (New Holland, Terra Australis) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Politics British empire Australia and Oceania Empires Australia 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: 1900s 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Great Britain - from 1707 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 1900s 20th century Politics Dynasties and royalty War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British monarchs - from 1066 Europe Rulers and politicians Britain

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date: 17 May 2025

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