Rebellion of Rebels in London
Habeas Corpus is suspended in Ireland
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1866 in Great Britain
Explore 45 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1866.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1866
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 45 unique records.
45Unique records
1 of 2Page
30Named events on this page
16Named people on this page
6Places on this page
February
March
Chemical Society Presentation
Presents the Law of Octaves to the Chemical Society, arguing that elemental properties repeat in a pattern analogous to musical octaves.
Franchise
Introduces a franchise for occupiers in boroughs & occupiers in counties
Reform of Electoral System
Introduces a franchise for occupiers in boroughs & occupiers in counties. Gladstones proposals are based on rents rather than rates
April
Franchise
Informs Liverpool the Government is staking its life on the Franchise Bill
Reform of Electoral System
Informs Liverpool the Government is staking its life on the Franchise Bill
Franchise
1st test of the Franchise Bill, the Government wins the 1st reading in the Commons
Reform of Parliament
1st test of the Franchise Bill, the Government wins the 1st reading in the Commons
Reform of Parliament
The Government has a majority of 5 & many in cabinet wish to dissolve Parliament
May
Overend Gurney Assistance Refused
Henry Holland refuses emergency assistance to Overend Gurney after an examination concludes that the discount house is insolvent.
Bank Charter Act
Suspends the Bank Charter Act & raises the bank rate to 10%, causes panic & depression
Crisis
Suspends the Bank Charter Act & raises the bank rate to 10%, causes panic & depression
Crisis
The Bank of Overend & Gurney fails
Economy of Great Britain
Suspends the Bank Charter Act & raises the bank rate to 10%, causes panic & depression
Financial Crisis
The Government relaxes statutory note limits to contain the Overend Gurney panic.
Overend Gurney Crisis
Gladstone authorises emergency liquidity after the collapse of Overend Gurney triggers panic.
Overend Gurney Crisis Liquidity Response
Henry Holland oversees exceptional Bank of England lending during the panic following the failure of Overend Gurney.
June
Reform of Government
The Government is defeat by a proposal from Lord Dunkellin
Vote of Confidence
The Government is defeated in Parliament by 11 votes
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 3rd term
Other events (month unknown)
Bank Charter Suspension
Gladstone authorises emergency liquidity after the failure of Overend Gurney.
Birth of Herbert George Wells
Herbert George Wells was born in Bromley and became a major British writer.
Birth of James Ramsey MacDonald
Birth of James Ramsey MacDonald
Dissolution of Parliament
Gladstone wants to dissolve Parliament & take the Bill to the electorate
Foreign Secretary of Great Britain
Appointed Foreign Minister, 1st term
Franchise
The Franchise Bill is defeated in the Commons. Russell refuses to take the defeated Franchise Bill to the electorate
Franchise
Cabinet agrees to enfranchise 7 pound occupiers in boroughs & 14 pound counties
Garrett Anderson
Opens a dispensary for women & children. Founds a hospital which in 1918 is called the Garrett Anderson Hospital
Great Eastern Lays Successful Atlantic Cable
The ship completed the installation of a working telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean.
Greenwich Time Reaches Atlantic Cable Networks
Telegraphic links carried accurate time information useful for determining longitude over long distances.
Health Reform
Founds a hospital which in 1918 is called the Garrett Anderson Hospital
Lord Chancellor
Appointed Lord Chancellor, 2nd term
Lost Atlantic Cable Retrieved And Completed
The vessel recovered the cable abandoned during the previous attempt and finished another working connection.
Member of Parliament
Elected Member of Parliament
Overend Gurney Banking Panic
The collapse of Overend Gurney triggered financial panic in London, furnishing a significant real world test of the banking problems Bagehot examined.
Poor Law
Appointed President of the Poor Law Board
Poor Law Board
Appointed President of the Poor Law Board
Reform of Electoral System
Cabinet agrees to enfranchise 7 pound occupiers in boroughs & 14 pound counties
Reform of Parliament
The Franchise Bill is defeated in the Commons. Gladstone wants to dissolve Parliament & take the Bill to the electorate
Reform of Parliament
Presents a 1,499 name petition to Parliament for female enfracisement
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.