Budget
Gladstones budget is introduced with the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty between Britain and France that would reduce tariffs between the two countries.
Permanent historical records ยท Updated 2026-11-03
1860 in Great Britain
Explore 44 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1860.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1860
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 44 unique records.
44Unique records
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32Named events on this page
23Named people on this page
15Places on this page
February
Budget
Some of the duties Gladstone intended to abolish in 1860 were the duties on paper, a controversial policy because the duties had traditionally inflated the costs of publishing and thus hindered the dissemination of radical working-class ideas.
Budget
The Bill to abolish duties on paper narrowly passed Commons but was rejected by the House of Lords. As no money bill had been rejected by Lords for over two hundred years, a furore arose over this vote.
Budget
The budget "marked the final adoption of the Free Trade principle, that taxation should be levied for Revenue purposes alone, and that every protective, differential, or discriminating duty...should be dislodged".
Budget
The budget reduces the number of duties to 48, with 15 duties constituting the majority of the revenue but to finance these reductions in indirect taxation, the income tax, instead of being abolished, is raised to 10d. for incomes above pounds 150 and at 7d.
Budget
The next year, Gladstone included the abolition of paper duties in a consolidated Finance Bill (the first ever) to force the Lords to accept it, and accept it they did.
Budget
for incomes above pounds 100.
Income Tax
The budget reduces the number of duties to 48, with 15 duties constituting the majority of the revenue but to finance these reductions in indirect taxation, the income tax, instead of being abolished, is raised to 10d. for incomes above pounds 150 and at 7d. for incomes above pounds 100
April
Birth of Archibald James Murray
Birth of Archibald James Murray
June
Reform of Electoral System
Proposes enfranchising ล6 occupiers in the Boroughs & ล10 occupiers in the counties. Despite Palmerstons electoral proposals legislation is not passed
Other events (month unknown)
1st tour of the USA undertaken by a British Prince
1st tour of the USA undertaken by a British Prince
Battersea Railway Junction Activity Grows
Battersea became an increasingly important junction district as rail approaches into London multiplied.
Budget
The Budget is rejected by the Lords because they oppose the abolition of paper duties. Tariffs on 400 articles & paper are removed. National debt interest is reduced by 2 million pounds. Direct tax is raised from 9d to 10d, due to extra defence spending
Budget
The Lords refuse to abolish paper duties & reject the budget. The Cabinet decides to refer the Budget to the Commons Committee of Privileges
Capture of Beijing
Present at the capture of Peking
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Chains from Brunel's dismantled Hungerford Suspension Bridge are purchased for use in completing the Clifton bridge.
Convention
The Treaty of Tianjin is accepted by China at the Convention of Bejing
Death of George Hamilton-Gordon
Death of George Hamilton-Gordon
Death of James Hamilton
Enters Parliament as Conservative Member of Parliament for County Donegal, a constituency he represents from 1860 to 1880
Dockyard Industrial Architecture Adapts
Changes in naval requirements led to continued reuse of the early steam powered workshops. The installation demonstrates the adaptation of existing dock infrastructure.
Editor
Appointed Editor of The National Reformer
Engineers Propose Clifton Memorial Bridge
Civil engineers backed completing Brunel's unfinished crossing as a memorial to the late designer.
Great Eastern Arrives In New York
The ship's arrival attracted great interest because of its unprecedented dimensions and capacity.
Great Eastern First Atlantic Crossing Begins
The giant steamship undertook its first voyage across the Atlantic to New York.
Great Western Ocean Steamship Legacy Recognised
The Great Western became an important early example of using large purpose built steamships for regular Atlantic travel.
Hungerford Chain Reuse Approved
Engineers decided that suspension chains from the demolished Hungerford Bridge could be reused at Clifton.
Hungerford Iron Chains Purchased For Clifton
Salvaged chains from the demolished Hungerford Bridge were acquired for Brunel's unfinished Clifton crossing.
Hungerford Suspension Bridge Dismantled
The pedestrian bridge was removed to enable construction of the Charing Cross railway crossing.
Interconnected Liverpool Basin Network Matures
The dock operated alongside Canning and Wapping connections within the expanded southern port system. It linked the salt trade with new waterfront capacity.
Municipal Museums Legal Framework
Birmingham adopted public library and museum legislation that enabled the later development of a municipal art collection and museum.
Occupation
China forbids the existance of embassies in Beijing leading to Anglo-French occupation
Parliament
Enters Parliament as Conservative Member of Parliament for County Donegal, a constituency he represents from 1860 to 1880
Poems and Songs
Publication of "Poems & Songs"
Professor of Surgery Appointment
Is appointed Professor of Surgery at the University of Glasgow.
Revised Clifton Suspension Scheme Prepared
Barlow helped adapt the earlier design to enable the unfinished suspension bridge to be completed.
Rule of Kowloon
Under the treat of Peking 11 ports are opened & part of Kowloon is ceded to Britain
Special Envoy
Appointed Special Envoy to China & Japan
Spectral Analysis
The beginning of spectral analysis of stars by Sir William Huggins
Telegraph Connections Carry Greenwich Time
The national time service linked astronomical observations to clocks used in transportation and commerce. Its influence reached maritime practice beyond the Observatory itself.
Treaty of Cobden
Reduces French duties on coal & manufactured goods. Puts the Cobden Treaty with France through Parliament as part of the Gladstone budget. Negotiated by Michel Chevalier & Cobden marking the recognition of common interests. Lowers British duties on wine & brandy
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.