Explore 658 historical events from 1850–1859.
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
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
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
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
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
Sigma Chi (ΣΧ) is one of the largest North American social fraternities. The fraternity has 244 active undergraduate chapters and 152 alumni chapters in the United States and Canad…
Sigma Chi fraternity is founded in North America
The Quinault Treaty was a treaty agreement between the United States and the Native American Quinault and Quileute tribes located in the western Olympic Peninsula north of Grays Ha…
Signing of the Quinault Treaty: The Quinault and the Quileute cede their land to the United States.
Walter Whitman Jr. was an American poet, essayist, and journalist; he also wrote two novels. He is considered one of the most influential poets in American literature and world lit…
The first edition of Walt Whitman's book of poems, Leaves of Grass, is published in Brooklyn.
Monte Rosa is a mountain massif in the eastern part of the Pennine Alps, on the border between Italy and Switzerland (Valais). The highest peak of the massif, amongst several peaks…
The first ascent of Monte Rosa, the second highest summit in the Alps.
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 Battle of Suomenlinna begins.
The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, were initially fought by European colonial empires, the United States, and briefly the Conf…
American Indian Wars: In Nebraska, 700 soldiers under United States General William S. Harney avenge the Grattan…
The Crimean War was fought between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom, and Sardinia from October 1853 to February 1856. Geopolitical causes of…
Crimean War: The French assault the tower of Malakoff, leading to the capture of Sevastopol.
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)
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)
The Crimean War was fought between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom, and Sardinia from October 1853 to February 1856. Geopolitical causes of…
Crimean War: The Siege of Sevastopol comes to an end when Russian forces abandon the city.
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)
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)