Victoria Cross
Institutes the Victoria Cross, Britains highest military decoration
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1856 in Great Britain
Explore 38 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1856.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1856
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 38 of 38 unique records.
38Unique records
1 of 1Page
32Named events on this page
18Named people on this page
13Places on this page
January
SS Great Eastern
Work on SS Great Eastern stops temporarily after John Scott Russell's shipbuilding business becomes bankrupt.
March
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris is signed.
Treaty of Paris
Signs the Treaty of Paris for Britain.
Treaty of Paris
Signs the Treaty of Paris as one of Britain's plenipotentiaries at the peace congress.
Vote of Confidence
Wins a vote of confidence in the Commons and the Lords after the Treaty of Paris.
Vote of Confidence
Wins parliamentary support after the Treaty of Paris.
April
Declaration of Paris
Signs rules affecting privateering and maritime war.
July
Birth of Richard Burdon Haldane
Birth of Richard Burdon Haldane
Other events (month unknown)
Australian Refit Adds Larger Masts
Great Britain received a renewed rig of three larger masts as part of its midcentury refitting.
Award
Awarded the Order of the Garter by Queen Victoria
Birth of Joseph John Thomson
Birth of Joseph John Thomson
Central Tamar Pier Capped
The central river pier is completed to the stage needed for erection of its upper iron support structure.
Congress of Paris
Supports a settlement placing the Danubian Principalities under collective European guarantees while retaining Ottoman suzerainty.
Congress of Paris
Supports the Paris settlement limiting Russian power in the Black Sea and restructuring arrangements for the Danubian Principalities.
Congress of Paris Negotiations
Leads the British delegation during negotiations that produce the Treaty of Paris.
Danubian Principalities
Supports the postwar settlement governing Moldova and Wallachia under collective European guarantees.
Declaration of Paris
The Declaration of Paris lays down international rules for maritime warfare.
Declaration of War
2nd of the 2 Opium Wars between China & Britain
Evacuation of Crimea
Commands British forces during the final occupation period and preparations for withdrawal after peace is concluded.
Governor
Appointed Governor General of India
Great Eastern Construction Delayed By Bankruptcy
Financial failure at Russell's shipbuilding business disrupted progress on the massive project.
Great Eastern Construction Resumes after Financial Crisis
Work continues after disruption caused by John Scott Russell's financial difficulties and bankruptcy.
Great Eastern Shipbuilding Finance Reorganised
Financial arrangements were altered to enable continued construction after the contractor's difficulties.
Great Western Steamship Withdrawn And Broken Up
The wooden ocean paddle steamer was dismantled after a career demonstrating the development of transatlantic steam travel.
Great Western Withdrawn For Dismantling
Great Western was withdrawn and broken up on the Thames in 1856 after nearly two decades of service.
Independence of Romania
Supports arrangements that later help lead toward the political union of Moldova and Wallachia.
Mauveine
His synthetic dye discovery influences Birmingham’s later chemical and manufacturing trades.
Military Troopship Service Concludes
After its Crimean service Great Britain returned for further refitting and eventual civilian employment.
Peace and Commercial Recovery
Wilson's later editorial years coincided with the end of the Crimean War and renewed debate about the costs and benefits of European trade.
Peace Settlement
Defends the Treaty of Paris as securing British objectives against Russian expansion in the Black Sea region.
Return from Crimea
Returns quietly to Britain after her wartime nursing and hospital reform work in the Ottoman Empire and Crimea.
Return from Crimea
Returns to Britain after the war, financially weakened by unsold supplies from the British Hotel.
Rule of Moldova
Supports the international settlement defining Moldova's postwar status under Ottoman suzerainty and European guarantees.
Rule of Wallachia
Supports the international settlement defining Wallachia's postwar status under Ottoman suzerainty and European guarantees.
Siege of Arrow
Chinese officials board the British flagship, the Arrow
Singers Hill Synagogue
Singers Hill Synagogue opens for Birmingham's growing Jewish community.
War Reporting
Reports the closing stages of the campaign and the transition from military operations to peace.
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.