The 1860s

1866 160 years ago

Reconstruction: Tennessee becomes the first U.S. state to be readmitted to Congress following the American Civil War.

The Reconstruction era, often simply called Reconstruction, was a period in United States history that followed the American Civil War (1861–1865) and was dominated by the legal, s…

Reconstruction: Tennessee becomes the first U.S. state to be readmitted to Congress following the American Civil War.

1866 160 years ago

The United States Congress passes legislation authorizing the rank of General of the Army. Lieutenant General Ulysses…

Military ranks are a system of hierarchical relationships within armed forces, police, intelligence agencies and other institutions organized along military lines. Responsibility f…

The United States Congress passes legislation authorizing the rank of General of the Army. Lieutenant General Ulysses…

1866 160 years ago

At the age of 18, Vinnie Ream becomes the first and youngest female artist to receive a commission from the United…

Lavinia Ellen "Vinnie" Ream Hoxie was an American sculptor. Her most famous work is the statue of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in the United States Capitol rotunda. Ream's Statue…

At the age of 18, Vinnie Ream becomes the first and youngest female artist to receive a commission from the United…

1866 160 years ago

Armed Confederate veterans in New Orleans riot against a meeting of Radical Republicans, killing 48 people and…

The New Orleans massacre of 1866 occurred on July 30, when a peaceful demonstration of mostly Black freedmen was set upon by a mob of white rioters, many of whom had been soldiers …

Armed Confederate veterans in New Orleans riot against a meeting of Radical Republicans, killing 48 people and…

1866 160 years ago

The Austro-Prussian War ends with the Treaty of Prague.

The Austro-Prussian War was fought in 1866 between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, with each also being aided by various allies within the German Confederation. Pru…

The Austro-Prussian War ends with the Treaty of Prague.

1866 160 years ago

George Howells Broadhurst, English-American director and manager (died 1952)

George Howells Broadhurst was an Anglo-American theatre owner/manager, director, producer and playwright. His plays were most popular from the late 1890s into the 1920s.

George Howells Broadhurst, English-American director and manager (died 1952)

1866 160 years ago

Miina Sillanpää, Finnish journalist and politician (died 1952)

Miina Sillanpää was a Finnish politician. She served as Deputy Minister of Social Affairs in 1926–1927. She was Finland's first female minister and a key figure in the workers' mov…

Miina Sillanpää, Finnish journalist and politician (died 1952)

1866 160 years ago

Germanos Karavangelis, Greek-Austrian metropolitan (died 1935)

Germanos Karavangelis was known for his service as Metropolitan Bishop of Kastoria and later Amaseia, Pontus. He was a member of the Hellenic Macedonian Committee and functioned as…

Germanos Karavangelis, Greek-Austrian metropolitan (died 1935)

1866 160 years ago

The Battle of Curupayty is Paraguay's only significant victory in the Paraguayan War.

The Battle of Curupayty was a key battle in the Paraguayan War. On the morning on 22 September 1866, the joint force of Brazilian, Argentine, and Uruguayan armies attacked Paraguay…

The Battle of Curupayty is Paraguay's only significant victory in the Paraguayan War.

1866 160 years ago

A plebiscite ratifies the annexation of Veneto and Mantua to Italy, which had occurred three days before on October 19.

Veneto, officially the Region of Veneto, is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the north-east of the country. It is the 4th most populous region in Italy, with a population…

A plebiscite ratifies the annexation of Veneto and Mantua to Italy, which had occurred three days before on October 19.

1866 160 years ago

Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Indian economist and politician (died 1915)

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was an Indian political leader and a social reformer during the Indian independence movement, and political mentor of Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. G…

Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Indian economist and politician (died 1915)

1866 160 years ago

John Ringling, American entrepreneur; one of the founders of the Ringling Brothers Circus (died 1936)

John Nicholas Ringling was an American entrepreneur who is the best known of the seven Ringling brothers, five of whom merged the Barnum & Bailey Circus with their own Ringling Bro…

John Ringling, American entrepreneur; one of the founders of the Ringling Brothers Circus (died 1936)

1866 160 years ago

James Burns, English cricketer (died 1957)

James Burns was an English cricketer. He played for Essex between 1890 and 1896 as a right-handed middle order batter and as an occasional left-arm slow bowler, and for Marylebone …

James Burns, English cricketer (died 1957)

1866 160 years ago

Matt Kilroy, American baseball player (died 1940)

Matthew Aloysius "Matches" Kilroy was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. During his rookie season in 1886, he had 513 strikeouts, which remains the MLB singl…

Matt Kilroy, American baseball player (died 1940)

1866 160 years ago

Eloísa Díaz, Chilean doctor and Chile's first female physician (died 1950)

Eloísa Díaz Inzunza was a Chilean medical doctor. She was the first female medical student to attend the University of Chile, and the first woman to become a doctor of medicine in …

Eloísa Díaz, Chilean doctor and Chile's first female physician (died 1950)

1866 160 years ago

George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, English archaeologist and banker, backer in the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb (

George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, styled Lord Porchester until 1890, was an English peer and aristocrat best known as the financial backer of the sear…

George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, English archaeologist and banker, backer in the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb (

1866 160 years ago

Bartholomeus Roodenburch, Dutch swimmer (died 1939)

Bartholomeus Roodenburch was a Dutch backstroke swimmer who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.

Bartholomeus Roodenburch, Dutch swimmer (died 1939)

1866 160 years ago

Albert Gottschalk, Danish painter (died 1906)

Albert Gottschalk was a Danish painter. He had a close connection, personally and artistically, to the poets Johannes Jørgensen, Viggo Stuckenberg and Sophus Claussen.

Albert Gottschalk, Danish painter (died 1906)

1866 160 years ago

Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine (died 1953)

Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine, later Princess Henry of Prussia, was the third child and third daughter of Princess Alice of the United Kingdom and Louis IV, Grand Duke of He…

Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine (died 1953)

1866 160 years ago

Juliette Wytsman, Belgian painter (died 1925)

Juliette Wytsman was a Belgian impressionist painter. She was married to painter Rodolphe Wytsman. Her paintings are in the collections of several museums in Belgium.

Juliette Wytsman, Belgian painter (died 1925)

1866 160 years ago

Carlos Schwabe, Swiss Symbolist painter and printmaker (died 1926)

Carlos Schwabe was a Swiss Symbolist painter and printmaker.

Carlos Schwabe, Swiss Symbolist painter and printmaker (died 1926)

1866 160 years ago

Francesco Cilea, Italian composer and academic (died 1950)

Francesco Cilea was an Italian composer. Today he is particularly known for his operas L'arlesiana and Adriana Lecouvreur.

Francesco Cilea, Italian composer and academic (died 1950)

1866 160 years ago

Frederick Blackman, English physiologist and academic (died 1947)

Frederick Frost Blackman FRS was a British plant physiologist.

Frederick Blackman, English physiologist and academic (died 1947)

1866 160 years ago

António José de Almeida, Portuguese physician and politician, 6th President of Portugal (died 1929)

António José de Almeida was a Portuguese politician who served as the president of Portugal from 1919 to 1923. António José de Almeida also served as prime minister from 1916 to 19…

António José de Almeida, Portuguese physician and politician, 6th President of Portugal (died 1929)