1856 CE

The American Party (Know-Nothings) convene in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to nominate their first presidential candidate, former President Millard Fillmore. The province of Isabela is created in the Philippines, in honor of Queen Isabella II of Spain. 1856 United States presidential election: Democrat James Buchanan defeats former President Millard Fillmore, representing a coalition of Know Nothings and Whigs, and John C. Frémont of the fledgling Republican Party, to become the 15th President of the United States.

In the 1850s, the 19th century.

1856 at a glance

World population: about 1.29 billion Our World in Data
U.S. president: Franklin Pierce Wikidata
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, head of state: Victoria Wikidata

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

January 28 - The port of Shimoda is opened per Japan's first treaty of amity with Russia. (Traditional Japanese Date: Twenty-first Day of the Twelfth Month, 1855)Japan source
February 2 – Dallas, Texas, is incorporated as a city.source
11 February– Nawab Wajid Ali Shah deposed. He was last King of Oudh State, reigned 13 February 1847 – 11 February 1856. Annexation of the Kingdom of OudhIndia source
March 30 – The Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Crimean War.source
March – Nepalese–Tibetan War: The signing of the Treaty of Thapathali concludes the war.source
April 16 – The Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law abolishes privateering, and regulates the relationship between neutral and belligerent shipping on the high seas.source
May 1 – The province of Isabela is created in the Philippines, in honor of Queen Isabella II of Spain.source
8 June – Pitcairn Islanders arrived on Norfolk Island; the last convict had left and the island was no longer a penal colony. Queen Victoria granted the island to the Pitcairners as a home. Bounty Day is celebrated each year in Norfolk Island to commemorate the event.Australia source
July 9 – Natal becomes a British Crown colony.source
15 July - Natal is made a separate British colony, after being part of Cape colony since 1843. Theophilus Shepstone becomes Secretary for Native Affairs.South Africa source
31 July – By Royal Charter, Christchurch is proclaimed New Zealand's first city.New Zealand source
18 September - Chilean presidential election, 1856Chile source
October 13 – American mercenary William Walker effectively takes control of Nicaragua.source
November 4 – 1856 United States presidential election: Democrat James Buchanan defeats former President Millard Fillmore, representing a coalition of Know Nothings and Whigs, and John C. Frémont of the fledgling Republican Party, to become the 15th President of the United States.source
November 27 – The Coup of 1856 leads to Luxembourg's unilateral adoption of a new, reactionary constitution, as King-Grand Duke William III signs the new constitution without the Chamber of Deputies' consent.source
December 1 – Under the County and Borough Police Act, in any county or area of England and Wales where a police force has not already been established, the Justices of the Peace must from this date take steps to create one according to nationally defined standards.source
Legislative elections were held on 9 November 1856.Portugal source
Switzerland opens a diplomatic consulate in Melbourne, AustraliaSwitzerland source

Conflict & Security

January 24 – U.S. President Franklin Pierce declares the new Free-State Topeka government in "Bleeding Kansas" to be in rebellion.source
January 26 – First Battle of Seattle: Marines from the USS Decatur suppress an indigenous uprising, in response to Governor Stevens' declaration of a "war of extermination" on Native communities.source
February 7 – The Nawab of Oudh, Wajid Ali Shah, is exiled to Metiabruz and the state is annexed by the British East India Company.source
March 20 – Filibuster War: Battle of Santa Rosa: – Costa Rican troops rout Walker's soldiers.source
March 24 – Taiping Rebellion: Suspecting treachery on the part of East King Yang Xiuqing, Shi Dakai garrisons Anhui and begins his march back to the Heavenly Capital, having defeated a strong Xiang Army detachment.source
April 11 - Campaign of 1856–57: Second Battle of RivasCosta Rica source
May 3 – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom gives Norfolk Island to the population of the colony at Pitcairn Island, most being descendants of the Mutiny on the Bounty. They first settle on Norfolk Island on June 8. Women's suffrage, as practiced on Pitcairn, is extended to Norfolk Island.source
May 24 – Pottawatomie massacre: A group of followers of radical abolitionist John Brown kill 5 homesteaders in Franklin County, Kansas.source
May 24 – Pottawatomie Massacre: A group of followers of radical abolitionist John Brown kill 5 pro-slavery supporters in Franklin County, Kansas.United States source
June 2 – Battle of Black Jack: Antislavery forces, led by John Brown, defeat proslavery forces in Bleeding Kansas.source
June 13 – Taiping Rebellion: Shi Dakai arrives at Nanjing.source
July 14–15 – In Spain, General Leopoldo O'Donnell takes control of the government, bringing an end to the bienio progresista.source
August 30 – Battle of Osawatomie: Proslavery forces defeat antislavery forces in Bleeding Kansas.source
September 2 – Taiping Rebellion: Wei Changhui and Qin Rigang assassinate Yang Xiuqing.source
8 September – At the Siege of Sevastopol in the Crimean War, Corporal Robert Shields of the 23rd Regiment of Foot recovers a fatally wounded officer from an exposed position, an action for which he will receive the Victoria Cross.Wales source
October 8 – The Second Opium War between several Western powers and China begins with the Arrow Incident on the Pearl River.source
November 1 – Anglo-Persian War: War is declared between Great Britain and Persia.source
1 November – Anglo-Persian War: War is declared between Britain and Persia in response to a Persian invasion of Afghanistan with the objective of capturing Herat.United Kingdom source
November 11 – Taiping Rebellion: Shi Dakai arrives at the Heavenly Capital once more with 100,000 men, and demands that Wei Changhui and Qin Rigang be executed. Shi subsequently becomes head of the government.source
November 17 – American Old West: On the Sonoita River in modern-day southern Arizona, the United States Army establishes Fort Buchanan, in order to help control new land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.source
December 9 – Bushehr surrenders to the British.source
The Tintic War breaks out in Utah.source
a massacre of at least 4,000 Muslims organized by a Qing Manchu official responsible for suppressing the revolt in the provincial capital of Kunming sparked a province-wide multi-ethnic insurgency.China source
Russia lost The Russo Crimean War (1853-1856) due to an Alliance of France, and The Ottoman EmpireRussia source
The Battle of Ndondakusuka: Mpande's sons Mbuyazwe and Cetshwayo battle for kingship of Zululand. Cetshwayo is successful, and 23,000 Zulu die.South Africa source
A revolt by Neuchâtel royalists sparks the Neuchâtel Crisis.Switzerland source

Exploration & Expansion

January 23 – The American sidewheel steamer SS Pacific leaves Liverpool (England) for a transatlantic voyage on which she will be lost with all 186 on board.source
26 February – Teis Lundegaard, farmer, shipowner, politician and representative at the Norwegian Constituent Assembly (born 1774)Norway source
16 April – Jacob Heinrich Moresco opens a shop with women's clothing and fashion accessories at Amagertorv 13 in Copenhagen.Denmark source
April 29 – The iron-hulled paddle steamer RMS Persia concludes a 9-day 16 hour westbound transatlantic crossing, at an average 13.11 knots (24.28 km/h), regaining the Blue Riband for the Cunard Line.source
May 20 – David Livingstone arrives at Quelimane on the Indian Ocean, having completed a 2-year transcontinental journey across Africa from Luanda.source
June 9 – 500 Mormon handcart pioneers leave Iowa City and head west for Salt Lake City, Utah, carrying all their possessions in two-wheeled handcarts.source
June 9 – 500 Mormons leave Iowa City, Iowa and head west for Salt Lake City, Utah, carrying all their possessions in two-wheeled handcarts.United States source
August – Pre-human remains are found in the Neanderthal Valley in Prussia.source
August – Pre-human remains are found in the Neander Valley in Prussia.Germany source
Suburb of Goodna founded in Queensland, Australia – Originally part of NSW, its 150-year anniversary was celebrated in 2006.Australia source
Charles-Philogène Tschaggeny, The Unwilling TravellerBelgium source
Approximately 3000 Crimean War veterans (German Legionnaires) settled in Kaffraria, later joined by 2700 German civilians.South Africa source
Arnold Escher von der Linth becomes a professor of geology at the École Polytechnique in ZurichSwitzerland source

Religion & Belief

7 May - The Swedish Evangelical Mission is established.,Sweden source
24 June – Haldor Johan Hanson, Norwegian-American hymn writer, publisher and author. (died 1929)Norway source
27 June – Royal order institutes a committee to examine Flemish language grievances.Belgium source
July 31 – Christchurch, New Zealand, is chartered as a city.source
September 1 – Seton Hall University is founded in South Orange, New Jersey, by the first bishop of the Diocese of Newark, James Roosevelt Bayley, a cousin of future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and nephew of the first American-born Catholic saint, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Seton Hall University is the oldest and largest Catholic diocesan university in the United States and the first institution named in honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.source
September 1 – Seton Hall University is founded by Archdiocese of Newark Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley, a cousin of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and nephew of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.United States source
St. Paul's School, Belgaum, is founded by the Jesuits in Belgaum, India.source
Formation of the British Methodist Episcopal Church (BME), an all Black church.Canada source
The Appearance of Christ Before the PeopleRussia source
Samuel Francis is relocated to Geneva to oversee the emigration of Latter-day Saints to the United States from SwitzerlandSwitzerland source
Halkyn-born Mormon missionary Dan Jones returns to the United States on conclusion of his second (4-year) mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with between 550 and 700 Welsh saints bound for Salt Lake City.Wales source

Economy & Finance

June 20 – General Mills is founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, as the Minneapolis Milling Company.source
15 October – André Oscar Wallenberg establishes the Stockholms Enskilda Bank.Sweden source
Global financial services business Credit Suisse is founded as La Schweizerische Kreditanstalt.source
Adolphe Stache, Elegant CompanyBelgium source
Premier of Newfoundland — Philip Francis LittleCanada source
The Ceres Brewery is founded by Malthe Conrad Lottrup in Aarhus.Denmark source
Nicolai Johan Lohmann Krog, politician and Minister (born 1787)Norway source
Christianssands Bryggeri is founded.Norway source
Undated – Edward Stanley Gibbons begins the sale of collectable postage stamps in his father's pharmacy in Plymouth, origin of the firm of Stanley Gibbons.United Kingdom source
Richard Cory sells his provision business and begins to trade as "Richard Cory and Sons" in the coal and shipping business.Wales source

Technology & Infrastructure

January 29 – The 223-mile North Carolina Railroad is completed from Goldsboro through Raleigh and Salisbury to Charlotte.source
April 21 – Building workers agitate for the eight-hour day in Melbourne, Australia.source
27 April – The Roskuilde–Korsør extension of the Copenhagen–Roskilde Railway is inaugurated.Denmark source
1 May – Railway line between Brussels and Ghent completedBelgium source
July 17 – The Great Train Wreck (the worst railroad calamity in the world to date) occurs near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.source
September 7 – The Saimaa Canal was inaugurated.source
23 September – The town of Perth, Western Australia, is proclaimed a City by letters patent from Queen Victoria.Australia source
October 27 – The two halves of the Grand Trunk Railway are joined with the construction of the Oshawa–Brockville section of the original mainline. Celebratory trains meet near the centre of the line at Kingston. The western terminus of the mainline is the east bank of the Don River.Canada source
26 December – The Otago Colonist publishes its first issue. The newspaper changes its name to The Colonist in 1862 and is absorbed into the Daily Telegraph at the beginning of 1863.New Zealand source
Kate Warne, the first female private detective, begins to work for the Pinkerton Detective Agency.source
Mauveine, the first synthetic organic dye, is discovered by William Henry Perkin, while attempting to synthesize quinine. This eventually leads to the birth of the chemical industry.source
Provisional opening of the Santa Apolónia railway station on 28 October 1856.Portugal source
Date unknown - Construction of the Western Main Line, the main railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg, begins.Sweden source
The first part of the Olten–Lausanne railway line is openedSwitzerland source

Science & Discovery

January 8 – Borax deposits are discovered in large quantities by John Veatch in California.source
24 July – HDMS Heimdal is launched at Nyholm in Copenhagen.Denmark source
November – James Clerk Maxwell takes up an appointment as Professor of Natural Philosophy at Marischal College, Aberdeen.Scotland source
November – The first known rules of modern croquet are registered by Isaac Spratt in London.United Kingdom source
Gregor Mendel starts his research on genetics.source
The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India officially gives 'Peak XV' (later to be named Mount Everest) the height of 29,002 ft. 'Peak IX' (Kangchenjunga), previously thought to be the world's highest, is confirmed as 28,156 ft.source
While surveying lands recently acquired by the Crown under the Robinson-Huron Treaty, British land surveyor Albert Salter observes a significant magnetic anomaly near the future site of Creighton Mine in modern-day Northern Ontario. This is an early scientific observation of the vast mineral resources of the Sudbury Basin.Canada source
Foreign Tribunals Evidence Act (British statute)India source
12–18 July – The 7th Scandinavian Scientist Conference is held in Oslo.Norway source
Date unknown - Revision of the Infanticide Act (Sweden).Sweden source
Carl Meissner discovers Conospermum mitchelliiSwitzerland source

Health & Medicine

11 February – Torje Olsen Solberg, politicianNorway source
28 February – Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning became Governor-General of India (till 21 March 1862)India source
11 April – At a public meeting in Melbourne, Dr Thomas Embling repeated the slogan "eight hours labour, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest".Australia source
May 22 – Caning of Charles Sumner: United States Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina beats Senator Charles Sumner with a cane in the hall of the United States Senate for a speech Sumner had made attacking pro-slavery Southerners, especially elderly South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, a relative of Brooks. Sumner is unable to return to duty for three years while he recovers; Brooks becomes a hero across the South.source
May 22 – Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina beats Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane in the hall of the United States Senate, for a speech Sumner had made attacking Southerners who sympathized with the pro-slavery violence in Kansas ("Bleeding Kansas"). Sumner is unable to return to duty for 3 years while he recovers; Brooks becomes a hero across the South.United States source
31 December – Lord Brougham's Act requires at least one party to a marriage contracted after this date to have been resident in Scotland for 21 days, putting a curb on Gretna Green marriage.Scotland source
The British Guiana 1c magenta postage stamp is issued in British Guiana in limited numbers; the one surviving specimen will become regarded as the world's rarest stamp.source
Governor of New Brunswick — John Manners-SuttonCanada source
New Natal legislature sets rules for importing Indian indentured labor to meet the demands of sugar planters.South Africa source
Fishguard becomes the first county court in Wales to close.Wales source

Crime & Justice

10 March – John Jones (Shoni Sguborfawr) is sentenced to three months hard labour for drunkenness.Wales source
11 April – Trial of Offences Act provides for criminal trials to be transferred to the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, in London if there is a risk that a fair trial at a local assize may be prejudiced. This is in response to the case of Dr William Palmer, the "Rugeley Poisoner", who on 27 May will be found guilty at the Old Bailey of murder.United Kingdom source
May 14 – The San Francisco Committee of Vigilance is founded in the United States. It lynches two gangsters, arrests most Democratic Party officials, and disbands itself on August 18.source
May 16 – The Vigilance Committee is founded in San Francisco, California. It lynches two gangsters, arrests most Democratic Party officials and disbands itself on August 18.United States source
Charles III of Monaco grants a concession to Napoléon Langlois and Albert Aubert to establish a German-style casino at Monte Carlo.source
Henri Adolphe Schaep, Working in the Docks at NightBelgium source
Antoine Wiertz, Coquette Dress (The Devil's Mirror)Belgium source
Premier of Nova Scotia — William YoungCanada source
Merchant ship Arrow seized by Qing authoritiesChina source
Andreas Aagaard Kiønig, judge and politician (born 1771)Norway source

Disasters & Accidents

4 February – The sailing ship Grand Duke is wrecked off St. Govan's Head in Pembrokeshire with the loss of 29 lives.United Kingdom source
6 February – The sailing ship Grand Duke is wrecked off St Govan's Head, with the loss of 29 lives.Wales source
February 12 – American clipper ships Driver and Ocean Queen leave Liverpool and London respectively; both will be lost without trace in the Atlantic, perhaps due to ice, killing 374 and 123 respectively.source
12 February – American clipper ships Driver and Ocean Queen leave Liverpool and London respectively, both to be lost without trace in the Atlantic, perhaps due to ice, killing 374 and 123 respectively.United Kingdom source
March 5 – Fire destroys the Covent Garden Theatre in London.source
5 March – A fire destroys Covent Garden Theatre in London.United Kingdom source
May 21 – Sacking of Lawrence: Lawrence, Kansas, is captured and burned by pro-slavery forces.source
May 21 – Bleeding Kansas: Lawrence, Kansas is captured and burned by pro-slavery forces (the "Sacking of Lawrence").United States source
15 July – An underground explosion at the Cymmer Colliery in the Rhondda kills 114 men and boys.United Kingdom source
July 17 – The Great Train Wreck of 1856: Two trains collide near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania killing at least 59 and injuring at least 100.United States source
Authorities in Canton order attacks on Thirteen Factories, which are subsequently destroyed in a fireChina source

Climate & Environment

February – an oak and a yew tree associated with William Wallace at his reputed birthplace of Elderslie are blown down in a storm.Scotland source
April – The Xhosa cattle-killing movement and famine begins in Cape Colony.source
August 10 – The Last Island hurricane destroys Last Island, Louisiana, leaving 400 dead. The whole island is broken up into several smaller islands by the storm.source
August 10 – 1856 Last Island hurricane: A hurricane destroys Last Island, Louisiana, leaving at least 200 dead. The whole island is broken up into smaller islands by the storm.United States source
August 21 – The Charter Oak in Hartford, Connecticut, falls to the ground during a stormUnited States source
October 12 – 1856 Heraklion earthquake: A powerful earthquake rocks the Mediterranean, killing hundreds on the island of Crete and many more in the Middle East.source
The AmaXhosa, devastated by land loss and disease, follow Nongqawuse’s prophecy, leading to mass cattle slaughter, famine, and near destruction of their society.South Africa source

Culture & Society

January 29 – Queen Victoria institutes the Victoria Cross as a British military decoration.source
February 1 – Auburn University is first chartered, as the East Alabama Male College.source
February 18 – The American Know Nothing Party convenes in Philadelphia to nominate their first Presidential candidate, former President Millard Fillmore.source
February 18 – The American Party (Know-Nothings) convene in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to nominate their first presidential candidate, former President Millard Fillmore.United States source
March 6 – Maryland Agricultural College (modern-day University of Maryland, College Park) is chartered.source
April 7 – Nelson College is founded in Nelson, New Zealand.source
April 10 – Theta Chi international college fraternity is founded at Norwich University in Vermont.source
April 17 – The Chicago Historical Society Museum is established at 1601 N. Clark Street, Chicago.source
April 30 - The founding of the Associação Naval de Lisboa by King Pedro V, the oldest nautical association in the Iberian Peninsula.source
13 July – C. K. Hansen is founded.Denmark source
25 July – Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856India source
15 September – Severin Løvenskiold, nobleman and politician (born 1777)Norway source
13 October - State President Boshoff of the Orange Free State lays the foundation stone of Grey College in BloemfonteinSouth Africa source
November 21 – Niagara University is founded in Niagara Falls, New York.source
December 2 – The National Portrait Gallery, London, is established.source
The National Dress Reform Association is founded in the United States to promote "rational" dress for women.source
Legal protection of widow remarriage is extended in India.source
21-23 July – Celebration of the jubilee of Leopold I's swearing-in as monarchBelgium source
A choral society performance of Handel's Messiah is given in Auckland. This the first known performance by such a musical ensemble in New Zealand.New Zealand source
Date unknown – Luleå becomes the seat of Norrbotten County.Sweden source

Births

January 12 – John Singer Sargent, American artist (died 1925)source
8 February - Alfredo Valenzuela Puelma (died 1909)Chile source
March 20 – Frederick Winslow Taylor, American inventor and efficiency expert (died 1915)source
April 5 – Booker T. Washington, American educator (died 1915)source
April 24 – Philippe Pétain, French soldier, statesman (died 1951)source
May 6 – Sigmund Freud, Austrian neurologist (died 1939)source
May 6 – Robert Peary, American Arctic explorer (died 1920)source
May 21 – José Batlle y Ordóñez, Twice President of Uruguay (died 1929)source
July 2 – Morteza Gholi Khan Hedayat, Iranian politician.Iran source
July 10 – Nikola Tesla, Serbian-American inventor (died 1943)source
July 26 – George Bernard Shaw, Irish writer, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1950)source
August 3 – Alfred Deakin, 2nd Prime Minister of Australia (died 1919)source
19 October − Elín Briem, teacher and writer.Iceland source
November 13 – Louis Brandeis, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (died 1941)source
November 29 – Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, Chancellor of Germany (died 1921)source
December 6 – Louise Catherine Breslau, artist (died 1927)Switzerland source
December 18 – J. J. Thomson, English physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1940)source
December 28 – Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (died 1924)source

Deaths

January 4 – Charles Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Marquess of Ailesbury, British politician (born 1773)source
January 14 – Janko Drašković, Croatian politician, reformer (born 1770)source
February 17 – Heinrich Heine, German writer (born 1797)source
20 February − Þórður Sveinbjörnsson, politician.Iceland source
May 3 – Adolphe Charles Adam, French composer (born 1803)source
19 June - Ventura Blanco Encalada (born 1782)Chile source
June 26 – Max Stirner, German philosopher (born 1806)source
July 9 – Amedeo Avogadro, Italian chemist (born 1776)source
July 14 – Edward Vernon Utterson, English lawyer, literary antiquary, collector and editor (born 1775/1776)source
July 29 – Robert Schumann, German composer, pianist (born 1810)source
August 6 – Robert Lucas de Pearsall, English composer; setting of "In dulce jubilo" (born 1795)source
August 14 – William Buckland, English geologist, palaeontologist (born 1784)source
September 3 – Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão, Marquis of Paraná, Brazilian politician (born 1801)source
October 19 – Josceline Percy, British admiral (born 1784)source
October 19 – Said bin Sultan, Sultan of Muscat and Oman (born 1797)source
November 23 – Manuela Sáenz, Colombian national heroine (born 1797)source
Jirhangga, Qing commander in Battle of Jiangnan (1860)China source
William Bally, sculptor (born c. 1799)Switzerland source