1855
Robert M
Robert Marion La Follette Sr., nicknamed "Fighting Bob", was an American lawyer and the leading progressive politician in Wisconsin from the 1890s until his death in 1925. He serve…
Robert M
The 1850s
Explore 259 historical events from 1850–1859.
1855
A group of American mercenaries led by William Walker set sail from San Francisco to conquer Nicaragua
A mercenary is a private individual who joins an armed conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any other official military. M…
A group of American mercenaries led by William Walker set sail from San Francisco to conquer Nicaragua
1855
Thieves stole 224 pounds (102 kg) of gold from a train travelling from London to Folkestone, England
The Great Gold Robbery took place on the night of 15 May 1855, when a routine shipment of three boxes of gold bullion and coins was stolen from the guard's van of the service betwe…
Thieves stole 224 pounds (102 kg) of gold from a train travelling from London to Folkestone, England
1854
The Kansas–Nebraska Act becomes law establishing the U
The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 was a territorial organic act that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. It was drafted by Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas, passed b…
The Kansas–Nebraska Act becomes law establishing the U
1854
Ludwig Levy, German architect (died 1907)
Ludwig Levy was a German Jewish architect of the Historicist school. He designed a number of synagogues, amongst which was the huge Neue Synagoge in Strasbourg, as well as official…
Ludwig Levy, German architect (died 1907)
1854
William Stang, German-American bishop (died 1907)
William Stang was a German Catholic prelate who served as the first Bishop of Fall River from 1904 until his death in 1907.
William Stang, German-American bishop (died 1907)
1854
Henri La Fontaine, Belgian lawyer and author, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1943)
Henri La Fontaine, was a Belgian international lawyer and president of the International Peace Bureau. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1913 because "he was the effective leade…
Henri La Fontaine, Belgian lawyer and author, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1943)
1854
Charles Sumner Tainter, American engineer and inventor (died 1940)
Charles Sumner Tainter was an American scientific instrument maker, engineer and inventor, best known for his collaborations with Alexander Graham Bell, Chichester Bell, Alexander'…
Charles Sumner Tainter, American engineer and inventor (died 1940)
1854
Åland War: The British navy destroys merchant ships and about 16,000 tar barrels of the wholesale stocks area in Oulu, G
The Åland War was the operations of an Anglo-French naval force against military and civilian facilities on the coast of the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1854–1856, during the Crimean…
Åland War: The British navy destroys merchant ships and about 16,000 tar barrels of the wholesale stocks area in Oulu, G
1854
The United States Naval Academy graduates its first class of students
The United States Naval Academy is a federal service academy adjacent to Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretar…
The United States Naval Academy graduates its first class of students
1854
Hertha Marks Ayrton, Polish-British engineer, mathematician, and physicist
Phoebe Sarah Hertha Ayrton was an English electrical engineer, mathematician, physicist and inventor, and suffragette. Known in adult life as Hertha Ayrton, born Phoebe Sarah Marks…
Hertha Marks Ayrton, Polish-British engineer, mathematician, and physicist
1854
Henri Poincaré, French mathematician, physicist and engineer (died 1912)
Jules Henri Poincaré was a French mathematician, theoretical physicist, engineer, and philosopher of science. He is often described as a polymath, and in mathematics as "The Last U…
Henri Poincaré, French mathematician, physicist and engineer (died 1912)
1854
George Gore, American baseball player and manager (died 1933)
George F. Gore, nicknamed "Piano Legs", was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for 14 seasons, eight for the Chicago White Stockings, five for the New Y…
George Gore, American baseball player and manager (died 1933)
1854
Jack Blackham, Australian cricketer (died 1932)
John McCarthy Blackham was a Test cricketer who played for Victoria and Australia.
Jack Blackham, Australian cricketer (died 1932)
1854
Ioannis Psycharis, Ukrainian-French philologist and author (died 1929)
Ioannis (Yiannis) Psycharis was a Russian-born philologist who was much of his life a national of France. He was of Greek descent. He was also a writer and a promoter of Demotic Gr…
Ioannis Psycharis, Ukrainian-French philologist and author (died 1929)
1854
Bernard Zweers, Dutch composer and educator (died 1924)
Bernard Zweers was a Dutch composer and music teacher.
Bernard Zweers, Dutch composer and educator (died 1924)
1854
George Prendergast, Australian politician, 28th Premier of Victoria (died 1937)
George Michael "Mick" Prendergast was an Australian politician who served as the 28th Premier of Victoria. He was born to Irish emigrant parents in Adelaide, but he grew up in Staw…
George Prendergast, Australian politician, 28th Premier of Victoria (died 1937)
1854
Solko van den Bergh, Dutch target shooter (died 1916)
Solko Johannes van den Bergh was a Dutch sport shooter.
Solko van den Bergh, Dutch target shooter (died 1916)
1854
Douglas Cameron, Canadian politician, 8th Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba (died 1921)
Sir Douglas Colin Cameron KCMG was a Canadian politician. He served in the Ontario Legislature from 1902 to 1905, and was the eighth Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1911 to 19…
Douglas Cameron, Canadian politician, 8th Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba (died 1921)
1854
Sarah Grand, Irish feminist writer (died 1943)
Sarah Grand was an Irish-English feminist writer active from 1873 to 1922. Her work revolved around the New Woman ideal.
Sarah Grand, Irish feminist writer (died 1943)
1854
Charles Algernon Parsons, English engineer, founded C
Sir Charles Algernon Parsons was an Anglo-Irish mechanical engineer and inventor who designed the modern steam turbine in 1884. His invention revolutionised marine propulsion, and …
Charles Algernon Parsons, English engineer, founded C
1854
E
Edward Willis Scripps was an American newspaper publisher. He and his sister Ellen Browning Scripps founded the E. W. Scripps Company, today a diversified media conglomerate, as we…
E
1854
Alfredo Catalani, Italian composer and academic (died 1893)
Alfredo Catalani was an Italian operatic composer. He is best remembered for his operas Loreley (1890) and La Wally (1892). La Wally was composed to a libretto by Luigi Illica, and…
Alfredo Catalani, Italian composer and academic (died 1893)
1854
Hjalmar Mellin, Finnish mathematician and theorist (died 1933)
Robert Hjalmar Mellin was a Finnish mathematician and function theorist.
Hjalmar Mellin, Finnish mathematician and theorist (died 1933)