Birth of Douglas Haig
Birth of Douglas Haig
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1861 in Great Britain
Explore 35 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1861.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1861
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 35 of 35 unique records.
35Unique records
1 of 1Page
34Named events on this page
20Named people on this page
13Places on this page
June
September
Post Office Savings Bank
The Post Office Savings Bank opens, extending secure savings facilities to ordinary households.
October
Death of James Robert George Graham
Death of James Robert George Graham
December
Death of Victoria
Death of Prince Albert from typhoid, spends the rest of her life dressed in mourning
Other events (month unknown)
Albert Hall
Constructs the Albert Hall in Prince Alberts memory
Albert Memorial
Constructs the Albert Memorial in Prince Alberts memory
Bagehot Takes Editorial Control
Walter Bagehot became editor of The Economist and brought a distinctive interest in finance, political institutions and constitutional government.
Birmingham Small Arms Company
Birmingham manufacturers establish BSA to produce firearms using mechanised methods.
Bridge Company Established For Completion
John Hawkshaw helps establish the organisation charged with finishing the abandoned Clifton Suspension Bridge and raising the resources required for renewed building.
Budget
Approval of the budget by the Lords becomes common practice. Abolition of paper duty is included in the budget & passed by the Lords
Claxton Promotes Bridge Completion Legislation
Brunel supporter Christopher Claxton works to obtain parliamentary authority and financial arrangements needed to revive the Clifton Suspension Bridge undertaking.
Constitution of Great Britain
Approval of the budget by the Lords becomes common practice
Cricket Tour Voyage Reaches Melbourne
The England cricket party arrived in Australia aboard Great Britain following its voyage across the oceans.
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.
English Cricketers Sail To Australia
The ship transported the pioneering English cricket team that travelled to tour Australia.
Governor
Appointed Governor of New Zealand
Great Eastern Civil War Passenger Traffic
The vessel carried passengers during transatlantic voyages undertaken at the start of the American Civil War.
Great Expectations
Publication of "Hard Times". Publication of "Great Expectations"
Hard Times
Publication of "Hard Times". Publication of "Great Expectations"
Hungerford Chains Selected For Reuse
Barlow's revised Clifton design made use of the iron suspension links recovered from the demolished Thames bridge.
Income Tax
Income tax was reduced to ninepence in 1861; in 1863 to sevenpence; in 1864 to fivepence; and in 1865 to fourpence
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
Lieutenant General
Appointed Lieutenant General
Livestock Provisioned For Australian Crossing
The cricket tour sailing carried live animals for food alongside passengers and crew during its ocean passage.
PAC
Founds the Public Accounts Committee, part of his reform for financial institutions
Parliamentary Government
Publication of "Parliamentary Government"
Peerage
Created Earl of Kingston, 1st
Post Office Savings Bank
Creates the Post Office Savings Bank
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
Sail Only Operation Reduces Coal Use
Great Britain could lift its screw propeller clear of the water when favourable winds allowed it to sail without engine power.
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Appointed Secretary for War
Sends troops to Canada on the outbreak of the American Civil War
Sends troops to Canada on the outbreak of the American Civil War
Third Suspension Chain Added To Plans
The revived design incorporated an additional chain on each side to provide greater strength than Brunel originally envisaged.
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.