1857 in History

Military secretary and adjutant-general to Sir James Outram, whose forces took part in the actions leading to the first relief of Lucknow

A supplementary treaty provides British financial and military support during the war with Persia.

Bahadur Shah II is arrested near Humayun's Tomb after the fall of Delhi.

Mangal Pandey's attack at Barrackpore exposes deep unrest among Bengal Army sepoys before the wider revolt.

The arrival of more British reinforcements finally leads to the defeat of the mutineers by John Nicholson, Commander of the relief force, after six days of street fighting, Delhi is recaptured

Tatya Tope becomes a leading military commander for Nana Sahib's forces during the fighting around Cawnpore.

Bakht Khan reaches Delhi with rebel troops from Bareilly and assumes a leading military role in the city's defence.

A new constitution lengthened the presidential term and strengthened executive authority.

Declares war on China

Begum Hazrat Mahal becomes a central leader of resistance in Lucknow and supports the defence of Awadh against British forces.

Parliament is dissolved after The Queen agrees to Parlmerstons request

The Andræ Government ends in Copenhagen, concluding this term as Council President of Denmark.

The Pieter de Decker Government ends in Brussels, concluding this period as head of the Belgian government.

Mangal Pandey is executed at Barrackpore after his attack on British officers helped expose unrest within the Bengal Army.

Bahadur Shah II is captured near Humayun's Tomb after British forces retake Delhi.

Begins the First Hall Government in Copenhagen and serves as Council President of Denmark.

The first great main-span truss is floated into position on barges before being raised above the river.

Tugs, naval vessels and hundreds of workers manoeuvre the first main truss through the river into alignment with its piers.

Takes his seat as a United States representative from Massachusetts.

Kunwar Singh leads the uprising in western Bihar and establishes Jagdishpur as a major centre of resistance.

Nana Sahib assumes political and military leadership of the rebellion around Cawnpore during the summer of 1857.

Marries Georgina Alderson

A new military honour is awarded by Victoria to 62 servicemen in Hyde Park

Linares overthrows Cordova and establishes a centralising government.

Robert Howlett photographs Brunel standing before the launching chains of SS Great Eastern.

Begins a one-year term as President of the Swiss Confederation.

Begum Hazrat Mahal proclaims her son Birjis Qadr ruler of Awadh and governs in his name during the rebellion.

Rebel sepoys enter Delhi and recognize Bahadur Shah II as the symbolic emperor of the uprising.

Mangal Pandey attacks British officers at Barrackpore, becoming an early symbol of the 1857 uprising.

Oubreak of the Indian Mutinty

The Matrimonial Clauses Bill makes it possible for a divorce in a court of law

Begins the Second Charles Rogier Government in Brussels and serves as head of the Belgian government.

Bahadur Shah II becomes the symbolic head of the Delhi rebellion after mutinous sepoys enter the city.

Nana Sahib emerges as the principal rebel leader at Cawnpore as Company forces are besieged in their entrenchment.

British forces recapture Delhi after prolonged fighting, ending Bahadur Shah II's effective leadership of the rebellion.

The arrival of more British reinforcements finally leads to the defeat of the mutineers by John Nicholson, Commander of the relief force, after six days of street fighting, Delhi is recaptured

Fights into the residency & rescues the occupants but leaves the city in rebel hands

Leads a 5,000 reinforcements into the residency at Lucknow

Slips through enemy lines & guides Campbells forces into the British residency. Goes through enemy lines & guides Campbells reinforcements into the British residency. Becomes the 1st civilian to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Lucknow

Fights through enemy lines & enters the Residency

Appointed to command the British garrison during the 2nd day of the siege

1st day of the siege, moved many of the local British into the garrison for safety

Killed during the 2nd day of the siege

Takes charge of Lucknows defence until the second relief, when he was badly wounded while crossing an exposed space with Outram and Sir Henry Havelock to meet with Sir Colin Campbell. Military secretary and adjutant-general to Sir James Outram, whose forces took part in the actions leading to the first relief of Lucknow

The first attempt to launch SS Great Eastern sideways ends in failure and the death of a worker.

Placed on trial for offences against public morality in his novel "Madame Bovary"

Loses a vote of censure by 263 to 247 votes which leads to a dissolution of Parliament

Birth of Georg Michaelis

Birth of Robert Baden-Powell

Birth of Sackville Hamilton Carden

Birth of Sidney James Webb

Birth of William Howard Taft

Auguste Comte dies in Paris, aged fifty-nine.

A British force defeats rebel troops at Badli-ki-Serai and secures the Delhi Ridge.

Tatya Tope's army is defeated by Colin Campbell's force during renewed fighting for Cawnpore.

Uda Devi fights British troops during the assault on Sikandar Bagh in Lucknow and is killed in the battle.