Siege of Khartoum
A relief expedition arrives at Korti under Sir Charles Wilson
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1885 in Great Britain
Explore 72 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1885.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1885
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 72 unique records.
72Unique records
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32Named events on this page
18Named people on this page
4Places on this page
January
Siege of Khartoum
Arrives at Korti at the head of a relief expedition to relieve Khartoum
Capture of Khartoum
The Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad captures Khartoum
Death of Charles George Hamilton Gordon
Death of Charles George Hamilton Gordon, during the siege of Khartoum
February
Siege of Khartoum
After Gordons death Gladstone resigns
June
Budget
Gladstone is defeated by the Irish Party's vote on the budget
Foreign Secretary of Great Britain
Appointed Foreign Secretary
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term, a minority administration
Cabinet
Appointed Member of Cabinet, leader of the "Tory Democrats"
Secretary of State for India
Appointed Secretary of State for India
Legislation
Redistribution of Seats Bill, creates seats in Yorkshire, Lancashire & outer London
Reform of Electoral System
Redistribution of Seats Bill, creates seats in Yorkshire, Lancashire & outer London. Merges smaller boroughs into County constituencies
August
1st Promenade Concert
Holds the first Promenade Concert at Queens Hall, London
Secretary of State for Scotland
Appointed Scottish Secretary & enters the Cabinet
October
Death of James Hamilton
Death of James Hamilton
November
Independence of Great Britain
Advises English constituencies to vote Conservative
Independence of Ireland
Advises English constituencies to vote Conservative
Election
Wins the election but dependent on Irish support
Government
Wins the election but dependent on Irish support
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
The Prince of Wales opens Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
December
Independence of Great Britain
Newspapers quote Herbert Gladstone about his fathers conversion to Irish home rule
Independence of Ireland
Newspapers quote Herbert Gladstone about his fathers conversion to Irish home rule
Irish Home Rule
Newspapers quote Herbert Gladstone about his fathers conversion to Irish home rule
Other events (month unknown)
Admiral
Appointed Admiral of the Fleet
Birmingham Civic Museum Identity
The new museum represented Birmingham's ambition to make art history and cultural learning publicly accessible as part of municipal life.
Chamberlain Square Museum Landmark
The completed museum became a prominent landmark overlooking Chamberlain Square and the surrounding civic centre.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1st term
Decorative Arts Public Interpretation
Paintings and decorative art were central to the museum's educational programme and to the local artistic legacy associated with Edward Burne Jones.
Discovery of Africa
Leopold II gives Stanley the task of expanding Belgian power in Africa
Football League Proposal
McGregor begins advocating regular league fixtures among leading professional clubs.
Franchise
Parliamentary reform continues with the Redistribution of Seats Act
Franchise
Extends the franchise
Free State
Helps establish the Congo Free State as a personal possession of the Belgian King.
Great Eastern Withdrawn From Cable Service
The vessel's career as a specialised cable laying ship ended after years of technically important work.
Hawarden Kite
Gladstones conversion to a policy of Home Rule in late 1885 (the "Hawarden Kite") results in the fall of Lord Salisburys Government, the Irish Nationalists, led by Charles Parnell, vote against the Tories on a.
Hawarden Kite
land Bill but The Irish Nationalists hold the balance of power in Parliament at this time, Gladstones conversion had convinces them to support the Liberal Government by using the 86 seats of Parliament they controlled.
Home Rule
Gladstones conversion to a policy of Home Rule in late 1885 (the "Hawarden Kite") results in the fall of Lord Salisburys Government, the Irish Nationalists, led by Charles Parnell, vote against the Tories on a.
Home Rule
land Bill but The Irish Nationalists hold the balance of power in Parliament at this time, Gladstones conversion had convinces them to support the Liberal Government by using the 86 seats of Parliament they controlled.
Industrial Gallery Architectural Interior
The museum building incorporated impressive interior exhibition spaces which connected civic architecture with the presentation of industrial and artistic achievement.
Legislation
Parliamentary reform continues with the Redistribution of Seats Act
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.