What happened in 1859

34 events　North America 7, Europe 24, Asia 2, Latin America 1

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Highlights of 1859

Jun 6EuropeThe British Crown colony of Queensland in Australia is created, by devolving part of the territory of New South Wales (Queensland Day). Brisbane is declared the capital.
Jun 15North AmericaThe so-called Pig War border dispute between the Americans and the British, over the San Juan Islands, begins by the death of the namesake pig.
Aug 28Latin AmericaThe solar storm of 1859, the largest geomagnetic solar storm on record, causes the Northern lights to be visible as far south as Montería, Colombia and knocks out telegraph communication (this is also called the Carrington event).
Oct 16North AmericaJohn Brown raids the Harpers Ferry Armory in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in an unsuccessful bid to spark a general slave rebellion.
NovEuropeOn the Origin of SpeciesDarwin published his theory that living things change little by little through natural selection. The first printing sold out at once, and a great debate about human origins followed.
Dec 10AsiaThe Ateneo de Manila University is founded, as the Escuela Municipal de Manila.

North America7

Apr 13The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is founded by Peter Cooper, a New York industrialist, inventor and philanthropist.
Jun 15The so-called Pig War border dispute between the Americans and the British, over the San Juan Islands, begins by the death of the namesake pig.
Oct 16John Brown raids the Harpers Ferry Armory in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in an unsuccessful bid to spark a general slave rebellion.
Oct 18Troops under Colonel Robert E. Lee overpower John Brown at the Federal arsenal.
Nov 1The current Cape Lookout, North Carolina, lighthouse is lighted for the first time (its first-order Fresnel lens can be seen for 19 miles).
Dec 2Militant abolitionist leader John Brown is hanged for his October 16 raid on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
The University of Michigan Law School is founded.

Europe24

Mar 9The army of the Kingdom of Sardinia mobilizes against Austria, beginning the crisis which will lead to the Austro-Sardinian War.
Apr 30A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is published in England.
May 18The 1859 United Kingdom general election concludes. It is the first election fought by the new Liberal Party, in which they win a 28 seat majority, with Liberal leader Viscount Palmerston becoming prime minister.
May 20Austro-Sardinian War: Battle of Montebello – The Austrian army led by Karl von Urban faces the French-Sardinian combined forces.
May 26Austro-Sardinian War: Battle of Varese – Giuseppe Garibaldi's Hunters of the Alps confront and defeat Austrian forces, led by Field Marshal-Lieutenant Karl von Urban.
May 30Austro-Sardinian War: Battle of Palestro – The Sardinians defeat the Austrian army.
May 31Big Ben, the Great Clock at the Palace of Westminster, London, is started.
Jun 4Austro-Sardinian War: Battle of Magenta – The French and Sardinians defeat the Austrians.
Jun 6The British Crown colony of Queensland in Australia is created, by devolving part of the territory of New South Wales (Queensland Day). Brisbane is declared the capital.
Jun 24Austro-Sardinian War – Battle of Solferino: The Kingdom of Sardinia and the armies of Napoleon III of France defeat Franz Joseph I of Austria in northern Italy; the battle inspires Henri Dunant to found the Red Cross.
Jul 11Austro-Sardinian War – By the preliminary treaty signed at Villafranca, Italy, Lombardy is ceded to the French (who immediately cede it to Sardinia), while the Austrians keep Venetia, and the French promise to restore the Central Italian rulers expelled in the course of the war. This brings the Austro-Sardinian War effectively to a close.
Jul 11The chimes of Big Ben ring for the first time in London.
Nov 10The Treaty of Zürich, reaffirming the terms of the Treaty of Villafranca, brings the Austro-Sardinian War to an official close.
NovOn the Origin of SpeciesDarwin published his theory that living things change little by little through natural selection. The first printing sold out at once, and a great debate about human origins followed.
John Stuart Mill publishes On Liberty.

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Asia2

Apr 18Indian Rebellion revolutionary, Tantia Tope is hanged for the 1857 Rebellion
Dec 10The Ateneo de Manila University is founded, as the Escuela Municipal de Manila.

Latin America1

Aug 28The solar storm of 1859, the largest geomagnetic solar storm on record, causes the Northern lights to be visible as far south as Montería, Colombia and knocks out telegraph communication (this is also called the Carrington event).