1868 in the United Kingdom

Events from the year 1868 in the United Kingdom.

[edit] Events

2 January - 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia: Robert Napier leads an expedition to free captive British officials and missionaries. ^[1]
13 February - The War Office sanctions the formation of what will become the Army Post Office Corps.
27 February - Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield succeeds Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby as Prime Minister following Derby's resignation due to ill-health.
9–13 April - Expedition to Abyssinia: At the Battle of Magdala, Robert Napier defeats Tewodros II of Ethiopia.
26 May - Last public hanging in Britain - Fenian bomber Michael Barrett.
2 June - The first Trades Union Congress is held in Manchester.
5 July - Preacher William Booth establishes the Christian Mission, predecessor of the Salvation Army, in the East End of London.
20 August - Abergele train disaster kills 32 passengers and a fireman.
3 December - William Ewart Gladstone becomes Prime Minister following the victory of the Liberal Party in the general election.

Joseph Norman Lockyer discovers the chemical element helium.
Thomas Henry Huxley discovers what he thinks is a primordial matter and names it bathybius haecklii (he admits his mistake in 1871)

^ (2006) Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. ISBN 0-141-02715-0.