Conference of London
The Conference agrees on the Belgian borders, the Bases de Separation
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1831 in Great Britain
Explore 78 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1831.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1831
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 78 unique records.
78Unique records
1 of 2Page
28Named events on this page
10Named people on this page
11Places on this page
January
February
Discovery of Antarctica
Sights bare mountain tops through the ocean ice and correctly surmises that they are part of a continent, naming the area Enderby Land in honour of his patrons
Discovery of Enderby Land
The expedition sights bare mountain tops through the ocean ice and Biscoe correctly surmises that they are part of a continent and names the area Enderby Land in honour of his patrons
Discovery of Evolution
Sets sail in the HMS Beagle. Departs for 5 yrs research in South America & the Galapagos Islands
Discovery of Antarctica
Spots a headland which he names Cape Ann; the mountain atop the headland is later named Mount Biscoe
Discovery of Cape Ann
A headland is spotted, which Biscoe names Cape Ann; the mountain atop the headland would later be named Mount Biscoe
Discovery of Mount Briscoe
A headland is spotted, which Biscoe names Cape Ann; the mountain atop the headland would later be named Mount Biscoe
March
Reform of Electoral System
Introduces the Reform Bill, it passes its 2nd reading by 1 vote but is then defeated
Reform of Parliament
Introduces the 3rd Reform Bill to the Commons
Clifton Bridge Engineer Appointed
Brunel is appointed engineer for the Clifton Suspension Bridge after his revised design is selected.
Election
1st Reform Bill is rejected by the Commons, this leads to an election
Reform of Parliament
Introduces the 1st Reform Bill to the Commons. 1st Reform Bill is rejected by the Commons, this leads to an election
Reform of Parliament
Steers 1st Reform Bill through the House of Commons but is defeated in committee
April
Conference of London
Persuades France to accept the Bases de Separation for Belgian frontiers
Frontiers
Persuades France to accept the Bases de Separation for Belgian frontiers
Independence of Belgium
Persuades France to accept the Bases de Separation for Belgian frontiers
Independence of Great Britain
Persuades France to accept the Bases de Separation for Belgian frontiers
Parliament
Goes to the Country after the Lords defeat of the first reform bill
Parliament
Parliament is dissolved after the defeat of the 1st Reform Bill in the Commons
Constitution of Great Britain
Grey asks William IV to dissolve Parliament so that the Whigs could secure a larger majority in the House of Commons, Grey explains this would help his Government to carry their proposals for Parliamentary reform
Dissolution of Parliament
Grey asks William IV to dissolve Parliament so that the Whigs could secure a larger majority in the House of Commons, Grey explains this would help his Government to carry their proposals for Parliamentary reform
Reform of Parliament
Grey asks William IV to dissolve Parliament so that the Whigs could secure a larger majority in the House of Commons, Grey explains this would help his Government to carry their proposals for Parliamentary reform
May
Independence of Belgium
Agrees to Leopolds demands that Luxemburg should become part of Belgium
Independence of Great Britain
Agrees to Leopolds demands that Luxemburg should become part of Belgium
June
Discovery of Boothia Peninsula
Helps locate the position of the North Magnetic Pole on 1 June 1831 on the Boothia Peninsula in the far north of Canada
Discovery of Magnetic Pole
Plants a union jack to mark the exact spot of the magnetic north pole
Discovery of North Magnetic Pole
Helps locate the position of the North Magnetic Pole on 1 June 1831 on the Boothia Peninsula in the far north of Canada
Clifton Suspension Bridge
A ceremony marks the start of construction and work begins on the Clifton side of the gorge.
July
Admiral
Attains the full rank of Admiral
August
Invasion of Belgium
The Dutch invade Belgium after Palmerston allows Luxemburg to become part of Belgium
Rule of Luxemburg
The Dutch invade Belgium after Palmerston allows Luxemburg to become part of Belgium
September
Coronation
Crowned King of Great Britan
Peerage
Created the Duke of St Andrews
Reform of Parliament
The 2nd Reform Bill passes through the Commons
Legislation
The House of Commons passes the Reform Bill, the Tories still dominated the House of Lords, and after a long debate the bill was defeated
Reformation, The
The House of Commons passes the Reform Bill, the Tories still dominated the House of Lords, and after a long debate the bill was defeated
October
Reform of Parliament
William IV asks Grey not to resign but refuses to pass the Bill by creating new peers. The 2nd Reform Bill is defeated by the Lords by 41 votes. 1st Reform Bill is defeated by the Lords
Bristol Reform Riot
Wetherell's arrival sparks major Reform Bill disorder in Bristol.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Construction is halted after the Bristol riots damage confidence and stop subscriptions to the bridge company.
Legislation
When people heard the news of the Lords Reform Act veto, Reform Riots take place in several British towns; the most serious of these being in Bristol
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.