-
The first electric telegraph
Samuel Morse independently developed and patented a recording electric telegraph in 1837. -
Victoria comes to the throne after the death of William IV
Victoria became queen at the age of 18 after the death of her uncle, William IV. She reigned for more than 60 years, longer than any other British monarch. Her reign was a period of significant social, economic and technological change as well as a period of industrial power and empire expansion. -
Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist' was published
Charles Dickens was one of the greatest Victorian novelists. 'Oliver Twist' was, like many of Dickens' other novels, originally published in serial form and brought public attention. Dickens' other works included 'The Pickwick Papers', 'A Christmas Carol', 'David Copperfield' and 'Great Expectations'. -
Slavery is abolished in the British empire
In 1834, slaves in the British empire started a period of 'apprenticeship', during which they were obliged to work without any payment. Abolitionists campaigned against the system in the Caribbean and finally in 1838, over 700,000 slaves were freed in the British Caribbean. -
The first modern railroad line
The first modern railroad line, the London-Birmingham Railway, opens, starting the steam-powered railway boom and revolutionizing travel. -
Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert.
Queen Victoria marries her German cousin, Prince Albert. During their 17 years of marriage (until Albert died of typhoid in 1861) the couple had nine children. -
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth becomes poet laureate, which is a poet appointed for life by a British monarch as a member of the royal household. -
Irish potato famine begins
In September 1845, the potato crop which had previously provided approximately 60% of the nation's food needs, began to rot all over Ireland.
It is estimated that about a million people died during the four-year famine, and that between 1845 and 1855 another million emigrated, most to Britain and North America. -
Traditional Falk Music
The 1850's gave way to traditional folk songs.This gave the lower classes more access to commercial entertainment. -
Invention of the instantaneous photography
by William Fox Talbot -
Crimean War
France and Britain declare war on Russia, launching the Crimean War, which largely surrounds the protection of the rights of minority Christians in the Ottoman Empire. Russia was forced to sue for peace, and the war was ended by the Treaty of Paris in March 1856. -
Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, dies aged 42
Albert's premature death from typhoid plunged Victoria into a long period of mourning and withdrawal from public life, during which a republican movement gained popularity. -
Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll publishes Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. -
Women obtain limited rights to retain their property after marriage
This act changed the previous legal situation, in which all property automatically transferred to the control of a husband on marriage. It granted some limited separate protection to a married woman's property and also permitted women to retain up to £200 of their own wages or earnings. Similar changes did not take effect in Scotland until 1877. -
Voting by secret ballot is introduced
William Gladstone's Liberal government introduced voting by secret ballot five years after the Second Reform Act had substantially increased the size of the electorate. This realised one of the key points of the reforming 'Chartist' petition of 1838. Voting in secret was not uncontroversial. The proposal was fiercely contested by the House of Lords, which considered it 'cowardly' and 'unmanly'. It was first employed at a by-election in Pontefract in August of the same year. -
The invention of the telephone
Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell patented his invention: the telephone, and, three days later, famously makes the first phone call to Thomas Watson, his assistant. -
Queen Victoria was named empress of India
India, which has been under British rule since 1858, declared Queen Victoria empress, under direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. -
Compulsory education
Education became compulsory for children under ten. -
The electric light
Sir William Armstrong was the first person to use electric light in his house. -
Establishment of Women's Franchise League
The Women's Franchise League was created and the battle for women's suffrage began. -
Women's suffrage campaign gains momentum
The first organised activity in support of votes for women dates from the 1860s, but pressure grew rapidly in the late 1880s. -
Queen Victoria died
Queen Victoria died at age 81, ending the Victorian Era. The Victorian Era spans over the 69 years of Queen Victoria's rule. The era is characterized by prosperity and reform. She was succeeded by Edward VII, her eldest son, who reigned until his death in 1910.
