President of Switzerland
Begins a one-year term as President of the Swiss Confederation.
Historical events in 1861
155 historical records
January 18615 historical events
Crown Prince
Becomes Crown Prince of Prussia when William I becomes king.
Slave State Secession
Texas convention votes to secede from the Union
Death of Ludwig Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach
Death of Ludwig Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach
Military Coup
Acha joins the military overthrow of President Linares.
March 18612 historical events
Morrill Tariff
The Morrill Tariff raises import duties shortly before Lincoln takes office.
Annual Message to Congress
Lincoln sends his first annual message to Congress
April 18617 historical events
President of Ecuador
Appointed President of Ecuador
First Inaugural Address
Lincoln declares that the Union is perpetual and appeals for preservation of the Constitution
Inauguration
Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States
President of USA
Lincoln begins his first term as President of the United States
Union Preservation
Lincoln states that his constitutional duty is to preserve protect and defend the Union
Inauguration
Federal troops protect the capital during Lincolns first inauguration
Special Session of Congress
Lincoln addresses a special session of Congress at the start of his presidency
May 18618 historical events
Attorney General
Lincoln appoints Edward Bates as Attorney General
Cabinet Formation
Lincoln forms his first cabinet after taking office
Interior Appointment
Lincoln appoints Caleb B Smith as Secretary of the Interior
Postmaster Appointment
Lincoln appoints Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General
Treasury Appointment
Lincoln appoints Salmon P Chase as Secretary of the Treasury
President of Bolivia
Acha begins serving as constitutional President of Bolivia.
Federal Income Tax
Revenue Act introduces the first federal income tax in United States history
Revenue Act
Lincoln signs the Revenue Act creating new federal revenue measures
June 18615 historical events
Slave State Secession
Arkansas votes to secede from the Union after the outbreak of war
Death of Camillo Benso di Cavour
Death of Camillo Benso di Cavour
Memorandum of the Slovak Nation
Presents demands for Slovak national autonomy.
Birth of Douglas Haig
Birth of Douglas Haig
Birth of Maximilian Johannes Hubert von Spee
Birth of Maximilian Johannes Hubert von Spee
July 18615 historical events
Battle of Bull Run, 1st
Confederate victory, Unionists under McDowell stronger fight a rearguard action
Battle of Bull Run, 1st
Stuarts cavalry covers the Confederate left
Battle of Manassas, 1st
Union forces from Washington are stopped from reaching Richmond
Battle of Bull Run, 1st
Unionists under McDowell have to fight a rearguard action. Confederate victory, Jackson earns the name "Stonewall"
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Appointed Prime Minister of New Zealand, 2nd term
August 18614 historical events
Slave State Secession
Tennessee voters approve secession from the Union
Slave State Secession
Eleven slave states have seceded while four slave states remain in the Union
Empress Dowager
Upon the death of the Xianfeng Emperor, his Empress, aged 25, was promoted to the status of Empress Dowager. Although her official title was "Empress Dowager Ci'an", she was popularly known as the "East Empress Dowager" because she lived in the eastern Zhongcui Palace
Succession
Upon the death of the Xianfeng Emperor, his Empress, aged 25, was promoted to the status of Empress Dowager
September 18615 historical events
Slave State Secession
Mississippi becomes the second slave state to secede from the Union
Secession of Mississippi
Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union
President of Venezuela
Appointed Supreme Chief exercising presidential authority in Venezuela
Post Office Savings Bank
The Post Office Savings Bank opens, extending secure savings facilities to ordinary households.
President of Chile
Is formally inaugurated as President of Chile for the 1861-1871 term.
October 18615 historical events
Slave State Secession
Florida becomes the third slave state to secede from the Union
Secession of Florida
Florida becomes the third state to secede from the Union
The American Question in England
Publishes an article examining British political attitudes toward the developing American Civil War.
The North American Civil War
Publishes an analysis of the causes and political character of the American Civil War.
Death of James Robert George Graham
Death of James Robert George Graham
November 18617 historical events
Slave State Secession
Alabama becomes the fourth slave state to secede from the Union
Secession of Alabama
Alabama becomes the fourth state to secede from the Union
President of Argentina
Appointed provisional President of the Argentine Confederation
Vice President
Appointed Vice President of the USA
The Civil War in the United States
Publishes a further article analysing military and political developments in the American Civil War.
The Dismissal of Fremont
Publishes an article on the dismissal of Union General John C. Fremont.
Coup
In Rehe Province, while waiting for an astrologically favourable time to transport the emperor's coffin back to Beijing, Cixi conspired with court officials and imperial relatives to seize power
December 186111 historical events
The Trent Case
Publishes an article analysing the diplomatic crisis created by the Trent affair.
The Anglo-American Conflict
Publishes an article assessing the danger of conflict between Britain and the United States.
Bombardment of Fort Sumter
Confederate artillery opens fire on the Union garrison at Fort Sumter
Siege of Fort Sumter
Confederate forces begin the attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor
Controversy Over the Trent Case
Publishes a further analysis of the international controversy surrounding the Trent affair.
The Crisis Over the Slavery Issue
Publishes an article examining slavery as the central political issue of the American conflict.
Death of Victoria
Death of Prince Albert from typhoid, spends the rest of her life dressed in mourning
News from America
Publishes an article reviewing political and military news from the United States.
The Progress of Feelings in England
Publishes an article examining changing British public opinion toward the American Civil War.
Newspapers and the Opinion of the People
Publishes an article contrasting newspaper positions with wider public opinion on the American crisis.
Specie Payments Suspended
Civil War financing pressures lead banks and the federal government to suspend specie payments, temporarily breaking ordinary redemption of paper currency in gold.
Surrender of Fort Sumter
Union forces agree to surrender Fort Sumter after the bombardment
Call for Volunteers
Lincoln calls on state governors to provide troops to suppress the rebellion
Call for Volunteers
Lincoln calls for 75000 volunteers after the attack on Fort Sumter
Crittenden Compromise
Lincoln opposes compromise measures that would protect slavery in federal territory
Slave State Secession
Virginia convention votes to secede after the attack on Fort Sumter
National Loan Act
Lincoln signs legislation authorizing federal borrowing and treasury notes
Slave State Secession
Georgia becomes the fifth slave state to secede from the Union
Secession of Georgia
Georgia becomes the fifth state to secede from the Union
Slave State Secession
North Carolina convention votes to secede from the Union
Slave State Secession
Louisiana becomes the sixth slave state to secede from the Union
Constitution of Austria
Defends the Constitution against feudal reaction & champions Imperial unity
President of Austria
Defends the Constitution against feudal reaction & champions Imperial unity
Ammonia-Soda Manufacturing
Uses ammonia recovery to reduce the cost and waste of soda production.
Solvay Process
Develops an efficient industrial process for manufacturing sodium carbonate.
Birth of Ferdinand I
Birth of Ferdinand I, son of Prince Augustus of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
President of Chile
Begins his presidency and opens the period of liberal administrations.
Succession
Succeeds as Emperor of China
Regency
Appointed Co-regent
Minister of Interior
Appointed Minister of the Interior
Constitution of Ecuador
Becomes the 1st President of Ecuador
President of Ecuador
Appointed President of Ecuador, 1st term
Rule of Cochin
Extends French influence in the Cochin region
Convention
Napoleon wants to occupy the whole of Mexico. Britain, Spain & France agree to recover Mexican loans by occupying the Mexican coast
Construction of Suez Canal
Oversees continued excavation across the northern canal works near Lake Manzala.
Siege of Saigon
Takes the forts guarding Saigon & relieves the troops under siege by General Triphuong
Ministry of Marine
Placed in chharge of the Ministry of Marine
Reform of Armed Forces
Supported by Edwin von Manteuffel and the new Prussian Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke, Roon draws up plans to adapt Scharnhorsts system to Prussia's altered circumstances. Proposes an increase in universal military service to three years, with new regiments raised and a reduced role for the reserve (Landwehr), requires years of political fighting and the strong support of the new Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck and Moltke
General
Appointed General of the Cavalry
Theories of Surplus Value
Marx begins manuscripts tracing earlier economic theories of surplus value.
American Civil War Articles
Marx and Engels analyse the American Civil War for European and American newspapers.
Prussian Citizenship Application
Marx unsuccessfully applies to regain Prussian citizenship.
Visit to Germany
Marx visits Germany seeking financial support and discussing publishing plans with Ferdinand Lassalle.
Progressive Party
Helps found the Progressive Party
Speed of Light
Maxwell proposes a theory which links the speed of light to the electromagnetic field
Reform of Armed Forces
Supported by Edwin von Manteuffel and the new Prussian Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke, Roon draws up plans to adapt Scharnhorsts system to Prussia's altered circumstances. Proposes an increase in universal military service to three years, with new regiments raised and a reduced role for the reserve (Landwehr), requires years of political fighting and the strong support of the new Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck and Moltke
Albert Hall
Constructs the Albert Hall in Prince Alberts memory
Albert Memorial
Constructs the Albert Memorial in Prince Alberts memory
Great Expectations
Publication of "Hard Times". Publication of "Great Expectations"
Hard Times
Publication of "Hard Times". Publication of "Great Expectations"
Birmingham Small Arms Company
Birmingham manufacturers establish BSA to produce firearms using mechanised methods.
Governor
Appointed Governor of New Zealand
Reform of Government
Goldminers drive the Chinese out of Lambing Flat because they undercut white labour
Reform of Parliament
Cowper promises to limit immigration in Australia by an act of Parliament
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Appointed Secretary for War
Budget
Approval of the budget by the Lords becomes common practice. Abolition of paper duty is included in the budget & passed by the Lords
Constitution of Great Britain
Approval of the budget by the Lords becomes common practice
Income Tax
Income tax was reduced to ninepence in 1861; in 1863 to sevenpence; in 1864 to fivepence; and in 1865 to fourpence
PAC
Founds the Public Accounts Committee, part of his reform for financial institutions
Post Office Savings Bank
Creates the Post Office Savings Bank
Independence of Great Britain
Supports the Risorgimento & proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy
Independence of Italy
Supports the Risorgimento & proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy
Sends troops to Canada on the outbreak of the American Civil War
Sends troops to Canada on the outbreak of the American Civil War
Parliamentary Government
Publication of "Parliamentary Government"
Peerage
Created Earl of Kingston, 1st
Energy Conservation Gains Experimental Foundation
Joule's Manchester research became central to understanding heat as a form of energy transfer. It connected industrial practice with more systematic technical investigation.
Lieutenant General
Appointed Lieutenant General
Invasion of Papal States
Leads an invasion against the Papal States
Rule of Nice
Nice is ceded to France
Rule of Savoy
Savoy is ceded to France
Succession
Succeeds as King of Italy
Unification
Recognized as the 1st King of a united Italy by Parliament
President of Mexico
Appointed President of Mexico, 2nd term
President of Mexico
Appointed President of Mexico, 2nd term
Invasion of Mexico
Suspended repayments of foreign debts provoke British, French & Spanish occupation
Intermezzo In Modo Classico
Composes, "Intermezzo In Modo Classico"
The House of the Dead
Publication of "The House of the Dead"
Peasant Civil Rights
The emancipation settlement grants former serfs legal rights to marry, own property, trade, and use the courts.
Redemption Payments
The emancipation settlement introduces long-term redemption payments for many peasant land allotments.
Reform of Taxation
The emancipation settlement requires many peasants to make long-term redemption payments for land allotments.
Serfdom
Issues the Emancipation Manifesto abolishing the legal institution of serfdom for privately owned peasants.
Reballion of Rebels in Poland
Russian authorities use martial law and military force against the January Uprising in Poland.
Chemical Structure Theory
Presents the theory that chemical properties depend on molecular structure.
Theory of Molecular Structure
The achievement marks theory of molecular structure as an important Russian scientific milestone.
Editor
Appointed Editor of the Volsfriend
Election
Suffers an important electoral defeat in Geneva and is obliged to step down
Resignation of Jean Jacob Fazy
Suffers an important electoral defeat in Geneva and is obliged to step down
Grand Vizier
Appointed Grand Vizier, 4th term
Succession
Succeeds as Sultan of Turkey
Grand Vizier
Appointed Grand Vizier, 3rd term
Committee on Elections
Chairs the House Committee on Elections during the Civil War Congresses.
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief
Brigadier General
Appointed Brigadier General
Captain
Appointed Captain in the Confederate Army
Colonel
Appointed Captain in the 1st Virginia Cavalry
President of United States of America
Appointed President of the 7 Confederate States of America
Secession Crisis
Lincolns election intensifies the secession crisis before his inauguration
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief
Brigadier General
Appointed Brigadier General
Captain
Appointed Captain in the Confederate Army
Colonel
Appointed Captain in the 1st Virginia Cavalry
Resignation of James Ewell Brown Stewart
Resigns from the US Army after Virginia cedes from the Union