1858

Years: 1855 1856 1857 - 1858 - 1859 1860 1861
Decades: 1820s 1830s 1840s - 1850s - 1860s 1870s 1880s
Centuries: 18th century - 19th century - 20th century

Events

January 14 - Felice Orsini and his accomplices fail to assassinate Napoleon III in Paris but their bombs kill 156 bystanders. Because of the involvement of French émigrés living in Britain, there is a brief anti-British feeling in France but the emperor refuses to support it
January 25 - The Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn becomes a popular wedding recessional after it is played on this day at the marriage of Queen Victoria's daughter Victoria, "Vicky," the Princess Royal to Prince Friedrich of Prussia in St. James's Palace, London
February 11 - The Virgin Mary is said appear to St Bernadette of Lourdes
March 30 - Hyman Lipman patents a pencil with an attached eraser
March 13 - would-be-assassin Felice Orsini executed by guillotine
May 11 - Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd U.S. state.
June 20 - Last rebels of the Indian Mutiny surrender in Gwalior
June 23 - Six year old Edgardo Mortara is seized by Papal authorities.
July 29 - United States and Japan sign the Harris Treaty.
August 5 - Cyrus West Field and others complete the first transatlantic telegraph cable after several unsuccessful attempts.
August 11 - First ascent of the Eiger.
August 16 - US President James Buchanan inaugurates the new trans-Atlantic telegraph cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. However, a weak signal will force a shutdown of the service in a few weeks.

British Empire takes over powers & properties of the British East India Company (see also history of Bangladesh).
William Marcy Tweed begins his thirteen-year term as "Boss" of Tammany Hall.
British stop using prison hulks.
Last Cape Lion seen.

Last updated: 10-12-2005 08:31:52