Explore 259 historical events from 1850–1859.
Louis-Étienne Saint-Denis was a member of the Mamelukes of the Imperial Guard, leading him to be known in his lifetime as "Mamelouk Ali". He was most notable as a faithful servant …
Louis-Étienne Saint-Denis, Arab-French servant to Napoleon I (born 1788)
Jacques Philippe Marie Binet was a French mathematician, physicist and astronomer born in Rennes; he died in Paris, France, in 1856. He made significant contributions to number the…
Jacques Philippe Marie Binet, French mathematician, physicist, and astronomer (born 1786)
Henry Constantine Wayne was a United States Army officer, and is known for his commanding the expedition to test the U.S. Camel Corps as part of Secretary of War Jefferson Davis's …
Major Henry C
The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used handcarts to transpo…
The first company of Mormon handcart pioneers left Iowa City for Salt Lake City, Utah
The sacking of Lawrence occurred on May 21, 1856, when pro-slavery settlers, led by Douglas County Sheriff Samuel J. Jones, attacked and ransacked Lawrence, Kansas, a town that had…
A crowd of about 800 pro-slavery Americans ransacked the town of Lawrence, Kansas
Charles Sumner was an American lawyer and statesman who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1851 until his death in 1874. Before and during the American Civi…
Senator Charles Sumner (pictured) was assaulted by Representative Preston Brooks in the United States Senate chamber in
William Walker was an American journalist and mercenary. In the era of the expansion of the United States, driven by the doctrine of manifest destiny, Walker organized unauthorized…
American adventurer William Walker departs from San Francisco with about 60 men to conquer Nicaragua
Henry Constantine Wayne was a United States Army officer, and is known for his commanding the expedition to test the U.S. Camel Corps as part of Secretary of War Jefferson Davis's …
Major Henry C
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the modern province of Parma, to a family of moderat…
Twentieth opera of Giuseppe Verdi, Les vêpres siciliennes ("The Sicilian Vespers"), is premiered in Paris
An adventure is a novel and exciting undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountai…
The American adventurer William Walker conquers Nicaragua
José Vital Branco Malhoa, known simply as José Malhoa was a Portuguese painter.
José Malhoa, Portuguese painter (died 1933)
Eliza Cecilia Beaux was an American artist and the first woman to teach art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Known for her elegant and sensitive portraits of friends, …
Cecilia Beaux, American painter and academic (died 1942)
Julius Engelbert Röntgen was a German-Dutch composer of classical music. He was a friend of Liszt, Brahms and Grieg.
Julius Röntgen, German-Dutch composer (died 1932)
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri is the monastic name of Priya Nath Karar, an Indian monk and yogi, and the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Satyananda Giri. Born in Serampore, West…
Yukteswar Giri, Indian guru and educator (died 1936)
Francis Julius Bellamy was an American Christian socialist Baptist minister and author. He is best known for writing the original version of the Pledge of Allegiance in 1892.
Francis Bellamy, American minister and author (died 1931)
Eliza Luella "Ella" Stewart Udall was an American telegraphist and entrepreneur. Recruited by Brigham Young in 1870 and stationed at the Deseret Telegraph Company office in Pipe Sp…
Ella Stewart Udall, American telegraphist (died 1937)
Isabella Ormston Ford was an English social reformer, suffragist and writer. She became a public speaker and wrote pamphlets on issues related to socialism, feminism and workers' r…
Isabella Ford, English author and activist (died 1924)
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero was an English playwright and, early in his career, actor.
Arthur Wing Pinero, English actor, director, and playwright (died 1934)
George Charles Haité was an English designer, painter, illustrator and writer. His most famous work is the iconic cover design of the Strand Magazine, launched in 1891, which helpe…
George Charles Haité, English painter and illustrator (died 1924)
Sir Richard Lodge was a British historian.
Richard Lodge, English historian and academic (died 1936)
Sir Robert Harry Inglis, 2nd Baronet, FRS was a British Conservative politician, noted for his staunch high church views.
Sir Robert Inglis, 2nd Baronet, English politician (born 1786)
Charles Robert Malden was a nineteenth-century British naval officer, surveyor and educator. He is the discoverer of Malden Island in the central Pacific, which is named in his hon…
Charles Robert Malden, English lieutenant and explorer (born 1797)
Mary Reibey was an English-born merchant, shipowner and trader who was transported to Australia as a convict. After gaining her freedom, she was viewed by her contemporaries as a c…
Mary Reibey, Australian businesswoman, (born 1777)