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Date |
Event(s) |
| 1 | 1845 | - 1845—1872: New Zealand Wars
The New Zealand Wars were a series of armed conflicts that took place in New Zealand from 1845 to 1872 between the New Zealand government and the MÄori. Until the 1960s, European New Zealanders referred to them as the MÄori wars; the historian James Belich was one of the first to refer to them as the "New Zealand wars", in his 1987 book The New Zealand wars and the Victorian interpretation of racial conflict.
Though the wars were initially localised conflicts triggered by tensions over disputed land purchases, they escalated dramatically from 1860 as the government became convinced it was facing united MÄori resistance to further land sales and a refusal to acknowledge Crown sovereignty. The colonial government summoned thousands of British troops to mount major campaigns to overpower the KÄ«ngitanga (MÄori King) movement and also acquire farming and residential land for British settlers. Later campaigns were aimed at quashing the so-called Hauhau movement, an extremist part of the Pai MÄrire religion, which was strongly opposed to the alienation of MÄori land and eager to strengthen MÄori identity.
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| 2 | 1854 | - 1854—1856: Crimean War
The Crimean War began as a religious feud, and was fought on the Crimean peninsular by a Franco-British alliance supporting Ottoman Turks against Russian forces.
The infamous Charge of the Light Brigade occurred on 25 October 1854 during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean conflict.
Thousands died of cholera during the siege of Sebastopol, which ended the war.
This was the first 'media' war, with newspaper correspondents sending back critical reports.
Gallantry medals, including the Victoria Cross, were awarded for the first time to British troops - each subsequent medal being forged from the metal of a captured Russian cannon.
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| 3 | 1856 | - 1856—1860: Second Opium War
The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war pitting the United Kingdom and the French Empire against the Qing dynasty of China, lasting from 1856 to 1860.
The terms "Second War" and "Arrow War" are both used in literature. "Second Opium War" refers to one of the British strategic objectives: legalizing the opium trade, expanding coolie trade, opening all of China to British merchants, and exempting foreign imports from internal transit duties. The "Arrow War" refers to the name of a vessel which became the starting point of the conflict.
- 1 Nov 1856—4 Apr 1857: Anglo-Persian War
The Anglo–Persian War lasted between November 1, 1856 and April 4, 1857, and was fought between Great Britain and Persia (which was at the time ruled by the Qajar dynasty). In the war, the British opposed an attempt by Persia to press its claim on the city of Herat. Though Herat had been part of Persia under the Qajar dynasty at the time the war broke out, it had declared itself independent under its own rebellious emir and placed itself under the protection of the British in India and in alliance with the Emirate of Kabul (the forebear of the modern state of Afghanistan). The British campaign was successfully conducted under the leadership of Major General Sir James Outram in two theatres—on the southern coast of Persia near Bushehr and in southern Mesopotamia. The war resulted in Persia withdrawing from Herat and signing a new treaty in which it surrendered its claims on the city, and the British withdrawing from southern Persia.
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| 4 | 1857 | - 1857—1858: Indian Mutiny
The introduction of 'Western' practices that contravened native religious practice led to a mutiny by sections of the British army. This marked the end of the East India Company rule in India.
The British abolished many native practices, such as child marriage, in India.
Tension became rebellion when native troops were allocated bullets smeared in cow or pig fat, which was unclean to members of the Hindu and Muslim faiths.
On 10 May 1857, troops in Meerut rose in rebellion against their superiors, and were quickly joined by disaffected civilians.
The revolt lasted 13 months, during which thousands of native and Western civilians were massacred.
- 1857: Matrimonial Causes Act
The Matrimonial Causes Act enabled couples to obtain a divorce through civil proceedings.
In 1839 - an act gave mothers the right of custody of their children under seven for the first time, but only if the Lord Chancellor agreed to it, and only if the mother was of good character.
The 1857 Act required a husband to prove his wife's adultery if he wanted a divorce. A wife had to prove her husband's adultery, and also that he had either treated her with cruelty, had deserted her, or had committed incest or bigamy.
A new clause was introduced which enabled a deserted wife to protect her earnings from any claim by her husband.
If a woman was divorced due to adultery she had no legal rights to her children
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| 5 | 1858 | - 1858: Start of Direct British Rule in India
The East India Company gained control of local administrative functions in India in the 18th century. After the Indian Mutiny of 1857, the company passed this control into the hands of the British government.
Did you know?
British control initially extended across three 'Presidencies' - Bengal, Bombay and Madras.
Many British people went to work in the Indian Civil Service due to the good salaries, and the opportunities for promotion.
The colonial families and their servants lived in cantonments at a distance from Indian settlements.
British government continued until 1947, until prolonged campaigns by protesters such as Mahatma Gandhi brought about Indian rule.
- 1858: Court of Probate Established
On 12 January 1858, the Court of Probate was established in London to prove all wills throughout England and Wales. (Probate documents dating as far back as the 14th century can also, however, be found.)
Until 1870 most women did not make a will as they were not allowed officially to own any property.
After 1870 a married woman could make a will and bequeath property settled upon her for her separate use, but only under certain specific circumstances.
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| 6 | 1860 | - 16 Apr 1860—26 Mar 1862: Building of Colne Valley & Halstead Railway
The Colne Valley & Halstead was authorized by an Act of Parliament of 30 June 1856 to build a line from Chappel and Wakes Colne railway station and Halstead in Essex. The section from Chappel (north of Marks Tey) to Halstead opened on 16 April 1860, followed by Halstead to Castle Hedingham on 1 July 1861, Castle Hedingham to Yeldham on 26 May 1862, and Yeldham to Haverhill on 10 May 1863. The line remained independent until it became part of the London & North Eastern Railway at the Grouping of 1923. The line closed to passenger traffic on 1 January 1962 and to goods traffic in 1965.
Physical connection with the Stour Valley Railway at Haverhill was provided in 1865, and although close relations were maintained with the Great Eastern Railway, the Colne Valley and Halstead Railway remained completely independent until it became part of the London and North Eastern Railway in the 1923 regrouping.
Part of the line at Castle Hedingham has subsequently been reopened as a Heritage Railway under the name of the Colne Valley Railway.
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| 7 | 1861 | - 1861: Death of Prince Albert
Prince Albert dies of typhoid fever on 14 December.
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1856 - 1861 (4 years)