1868 in the United Kingdom
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 1868 in the United Kingdom: |
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Events from the year 1868 in the United Kingdom.
Contents |
[edit] Incumbents
- Monarch - Victoria of the United Kingdom
- Prime Minister - Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, Conservative (until 27 February), Benjamin Disraeli, Conservative (until 1 December), William Gladstone, Liberal
[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.
- 12 March - Britain annexes Basutoland.[2]
- 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.[1]
- 29 June - the Press Association founded in London.[1]
- 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.
- 15 November to 24 November - General election: Liberal Party victorious.[2]
- 24 November - The Smithfield Meat Market opens in London.[1]
- 3 December - William Ewart Gladstone becomes Prime Minister.
- 10 December
- Whitaker's Almanack first published.[1]
- The world's first traffic lights are installed in Parliament Square in London.[1]
[edit] Undated
- 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)
- Archibald Campbell Tait enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury.
[edit] Births
- 25 March - William Lockwood, cricketer (died 1932)
- 10 April - George Arliss, actor (died 1946)
- 28 April - Lucy Booth, the fifth daughter of William and Catherine Booth (died 1953)
- 6 June - Robert Falcon Scott, explorer (died 1912)
- 7 June - Charles Rennie Mackintosh, architect (died 1928)
- 6 July - Princess Victoria Alexandra of the United Kingdom, (died 1935)
- 14 July - Gertrude Bell, archaeologist, writer, spy and administrator (died 1926)
[edit] Deaths
- 10 February - David Brewster, scientist, inventor and writer (born 1781)
- 28 March - James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, military leader (born 1797)
- 7 May - Henry Peter Brougham, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain (born 1778)
- 17 August - Duncan Forbes, linguist (born 1798)
- 24 September - Henry Hart Milman, historian and ecclesiastic (born 1791)
- 27 October - Charles Thomas Longley, Archbishop of Canterbury (born 1794)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f (2006) Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. ISBN 0-141-02715-0.
- ^ a b Palmer, Alan & Veronica (1992). The Chronology of British History. London: Century Ltd, 289-290. ISBN 0-7126-5616-2.
