What happened in 1857

31 events　World 3, North America 10, Europe 7, Asia 10, Latin America 1

Highlights of 1857

Jan 24AsiaThe University of Calcutta is established in Calcutta, as the first multidisciplinary modern university in South Asia. The University of Bombay is also established in Bombay, British India, this year.
Mar 3WorldFrance and the United Kingdom formally declare war on China, in the Second Anglo-Chinese War.
Apr 4WorldThe Anglo-Persian War ends.
Apr 8EuropeMangal Pandey is hanged for mutiny against the British East India Company army; the execution is a precursor event to the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Sep 11North AmericaThe Mountain Meadows massacre occurs in Utah.
DecLatin AmericaThe Reform War in Mexico begins.

Feb 5The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States is promulgated.
Mar 3France and the United Kingdom formally declare war on China, in the Second Anglo-Chinese War.
Apr 4The Anglo-Persian War ends.

Jan 9The 7.9 Fort Tejon earthquake shakes Central and Southern California, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).
Feb 3The National Deaf Mute College (later renamed Gallaudet University) is established in Washington, D.C., becoming the first school for the advanced education of the deaf.
Mar 6Dred Scott v. Sandford: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that blacks are not citizens and slaves can not sue for freedom, driving the U.S. further towards the American Civil War (the ruling is not overturned until the 14th Amendment is adopted in 1868).
Jul 18The Utah Expedition leaves Fort Leavenworth, effectively beginning the Utah War.
Sep 11The Mountain Meadows massacre occurs in Utah.
SepThe Panic of 1857 begins: Speculation in U.S. railroad shares, and the collapse on August 24 of the New York City branch of the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company, following widespread embezzlement, trigger a financial crisis which will extend to Europe.
Oct 13Panic of 1857: New York banks close, and do not reopen until December 12.
San Jose State, the first public U.S. university west of the Mississippi River, opens in San Francisco as Minn's Evening School.
U.S. composer James Lord Pierpont composes "Jingle Bells", originally entitled "The One Horse Open Sleigh".
Illinois State University, the first public university in Illinois, is established in Normal, Illinois.

Jan 1The biggest Estonian newspaper, Postimees, is established by Johann Voldemar Jannsen.
Apr 8Mangal Pandey is hanged for mutiny against the British East India Company army; the execution is a precursor event to the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Apr 18The Spirits' Book (Le Livre des Esprits), one of the Five Fundamental Works of Spiritism, is published by French educator Allan Kardec.
Apr 27First horse race run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.
May 15Spanish financial group, Banco Santander founded in Cantabria, Spain.
Jun 26At a ceremony in London, Queen Victoria awards the first 66 Victoria Crosses to British troops, for actions during the Crimean War.
Dec 16The 7.0 Basilicata earthquake shakes the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Southern Italy) with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing about 10,000 people.

Jan 24The University of Calcutta is established in Calcutta, as the first multidisciplinary modern university in South Asia. The University of Bombay is also established in Bombay, British India, this year.
May 10Indian Rebellion of 1857: The 3rd Light Cavalry of the British East India Company's army rebels against its British officers, thus beginning the rebellion.
May 11Indian Rebellion of 1857: Indian combatants capture Delhi from the British East India Company.
Jun 1Second Anglo-Chinese War: Battle of Fatshan Creek – The British Royal Navy defeats the Cantonese fleet of Qing dynasty China.
Jul 1Indian Rebellion of 1857: Siege of Lucknow.
Jul 15Indian Rebellion of 1857: The second massacre at Kanpur takes place.
Sep 20Indian Rebellion of 1857: British forces recapture Delhi, compelling the surrender of Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor.
Nov 16Indian Rebellion of 1857: British troops win 24 Victoria Crosses in action this day.
Dec 28Second Anglo-Chinese War: 2nd Battle of Canton – British and French forces begin an assault on the Qing dynasty Chinese city of Canton (Guangzhou).
The first commercial tea plantation in the British Raj is opened in the Mulnicherra Estate in Sylhet.