Birth of Beatrice Potter Webb
Birth of Beatrice Potter Webb
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1858 in Great Britain
Explore 41 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1858.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1858
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 41 unique records.
41Unique records
1 of 2Page
38Named events on this page
23Named people on this page
18Places on this page
January
Halle Orchestra
Founds the Halle Orchestra
SS Great Eastern
SS Great Eastern is finally floated after repeated and costly launching attempts.
February
Government
Gladstone refuse to join the Government. Forms a minority Tory Government of free traders & Peelites
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2nd term. Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain
Resignation of Henry John Temple
Palmerstons Government is defeated over the conspiracy to murder bill
April
Death of James Abercromby
Death of James Abercromby
July
First Tamar Span Raised to Final Height
Hydraulic jacks lift the first main truss to its final height about one hundred feet above the water.
Second Royal Albert Truss Floated
The second main span is floated into the Tamar to complete the paired crossing arrangement.
August
Capital
Chooses Ottowa as the capital of Canada
Other events (month unknown)
Battersea Thames Rail Crossing Develops
Victorian railway engineering added Thames crossings that strengthened links between Battersea and central London.
Battle of Cawnpore
Helps crush the Indian mutiny & recaptures Cawnpore
Battle of Lucknow
Uses 20,000 men, the largest army ever seen in India, to recapture Lucknow
Birth of Andrew Bonar Law
Andrew Bonar Law is born in the British colony of New Brunswick before later pursuing a political career in Britain.
Birth of Beatrice
Birth of Beatrice, 9th child of Victoria & Albert
Birth of Beatrice
Birth of Beatrice, 9th child of Victoria & Albert
Calls for leniency in dealing with the Indian rebels
Calls for leniency in dealing with the Indian rebels
Capture of London
During February the British capture Canton & capture Emperor Yeh
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, 2nd term
Empress
Transfers India to the crown & makes Victoria Empress of India
Governor
Appointed Governor General of India
Great Eastern Hull Finally Floated
After prolonged and difficult launch attempts the huge steamship entered the water in January.
Great Eastern Outfitting Continues Afloat
Work continued on the giant vessel's engines fittings and systems after the troublesome launching operation.
India Government Transfer Debate
The transfer of Indian government from the East India Company to the Crown was debated in Parliament following the uprising of 1857.
Invention of Galvonometer
Patents the mirror galvonometer
John Snow Anaesthesia Research Legacy
John Snow's work on anaesthetic dosage and equipment shaped medical practice following his death in 1858.
Lord Chancellor
Appointed Lord Chancellor, 1st term
Passenger Service Resumes After Troop Duties
Great Britain resumed civilian long distance operations after being used to transport soldiers in wartime.
Patent
Patents the mirror galvonometer
Peelites
The Conservative Leader Lord Derby becomes Prime Minister, but Gladstone, like the other Peelites still nominally a Conservative, declines a position in the Government, opting not to sacrifice his free trade principles
Rebellion of Indian
Calls for leniency in dealing with the Indian rebels
Resignation of William Ewart Gladstone
Leaves the Tory Party despite appeals from Derby, opposed to the policies of Disraeli. Leaves the Aberdeen coalition & never returns to the Conservative Party
Rule of India
Transfers India to the crown & makes Victoria Empress of India
Rule of India
Calls for leniency in dealing with the Indian rebels
Rule of Ionian Islands
Tries to help the Greeks gain the Ionian Islands
Secretary of State for India
Appointed Secretary of State for India, transfers the Government of India to the crown
Siege of Beijing
The Chines Emperor refuses to ratify the Treaty of Tianjin & Beijing is occupied
Siege of Gwalior
Joins Sir Hugh Rose as second-in-command in the march on Gwalior
St George's Hall
Designs St George's Hall, later completed as a major civic building.
Treaty of Tianjin
The Chines Emperor refuses to ratify the Treaty of Tianjin & Beijing is occupied. The Chinese are forced to adhere to the Treaty of Tianjin. Opens further Chinese ports to western trade
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.