YEAR

SIGNIFICANCE

1837

Victoria was crowned as the Queen of Britain. This was the beginning of the Victorian period. The House of Parliament was built in this year.

1840

Penny Black Stamp was issued. It was the first stamp issued in the world. Queen Victoria married her cousin, Prince Albert. London library was started.

1841

The first ever railway excursion was arranged by Thomas Cook. Hypnosis was discovered. Prince Edward was born. New Zealand became a colony. The Great Western Railway from Bristol to London was completed.

1842

Queen Victoria travels for the first time in a train. The Opium war between Britain and China ceases and the Treaty of Nanking was signed. An attempt to assinate Queen Victoria. Mines Act was enacted to prohibit children below ten years to work in mines.

1844

The potato famine breaks out in Ireland. Morse telegraph was introduced. Factories Act was enacted to restrict the working hours of children between five-ten of age to seven hours a day.

1845 &

1844-1845

The S.S Great Britain was built by Isambard Brunel.

8,000 km long railway line was built across Britain.

1846

Ether was used as an anesthetic.

1848

Queen’s College for Women was established. Marx and Engels issued Communist Manifesto.

1849

Disraeli became the head of Conservative Party. Bedford College for Women was founded.

1850

First post boxes were built. Telegraph cable-line was built to pass under the English channel. First Workhouses were started to help the extremely poor people by providing food and shelter in return of work.

1851

The Great Exhibition was sponsored by Prince Albert and was help at the Crystal Palace. Sewing machine was invented. First free public library was opened in Winchester and London became the most populous city of Britain.

1853

The Crimean War began.

1854

Men’s Working College was started in London. Florence Nightingale joins the Crimean camp to nurse the victims. Out-break of cholera epidemic.

1855

Printing Telegraph was introduced. Famous Artist Ford Madox Brown painted the ‘Last of England’.

1856

The Crimean War ended. Anglo-Chinese war began.

1857

Victoria and Albert Museum was started in London. Mutiny of the soldiers in India, a British Colony.

1859

Charles Darwin published his book ‘Origin of Species’.

1860

First book on nursing was published by Florence Nightingale. In the 1860’s the boneshaker was introduced. These were one of the first bicycles having pedals.

1861

Prince Albert dies of Typhoid fever.

1863

First underground railway was started in London. The Football Association was founded.

1864

Boys below the age of 10 years were prohibited from sweeping the chimneys.

1867

Disraeli introduces law enabling taxpayers to vote.

1870

Schools were established for children between the age group of five- ten years.

1871

Queen Victoria opens Albert Hall.

1874

The ten hour Factory Act was brought into force to limit the number of working hours to ten. Disraeli became the Prime Minister.

1876

Queen Victoria was crowned as the Empress of India. Primary education was made mandatory.

1877

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. The world’s first recording of human voices after phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison.

1878

First public electric lighting was started on London streets.

1879

First electric light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison.

1880

Compulsory education for children up to the age of twelve was implemented.

1883

First Electric Railway was introduced.

1885

Karl Benz built the first automobile. Prince of Wales opened the Birmingham Museum Round Room and Industrial Gallery.

1887

Gramophone was invented.

1888

Jack the Ripper terrorizes London

1891

Free education was proposed to every child between the age group of five to thirteen

1901

Queen Victoria died and her son Edward VII ascended the throne.