1868 in the United Kingdom

Events from the year 1868 in the United Kingdom.

Incumbents

*Monarch - Victoria of the United Kingdom
*Prime Minister - Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, Conservative (until 27 February), Benjamin Disraeli, Conservative (until 1 December), William Gladstone, Liberal

Events

* 2 January - 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia: Robert Napier leads an expedition to free captive British officials and missionaries.cite book|title=Penguin Pocket On This Day|publisher=Penguin Reference Library|isbn=0-141-02715-0|year=2006]
* 13 February - The War Office sanctions the formation of what will become the Army Post Office Corps.
* 27 February - Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield succeeds Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby as Prime Minister following Derby's resignation due to ill-health.
* 12 March - Britain annexes Basutoland.cite book |last=Palmer |first=Alan & Veronica |year=1992 |title= The Chronology of British History|publisher= Century Ltd|location=London|pages= 289-290|isbn= 0-7126-5616-2]
* 9–13 April - Expedition to Abyssinia: At the Battle of Magdala, Robert Napier defeats Tewodros II of Ethiopia.
* 26 May - Last public hanging in Britain - Fenian bomber Michael Barrett.
* 2 June - The first Trades Union Congress is held in Manchester.
* 29 June - the Press Association founded in London.
* 5 July - Preacher William Booth establishes the Christian Mission, predecessor of the Salvation Army, in the East End of London.
* 20 August - Abergele train disaster kills 32 passengers and a fireman.
* 15 November to 24 November - General election: Liberal Party victorious.
* 24 November - The Smithfield Meat Market opens in London.
* 3 December - William Ewart Gladstone becomes Prime Minister.
* 10 December
** Whitaker's Almanack first published.
** The world's first traffic lights are installed in Parliament Square in London.

Undated

* Joseph Norman Lockyer discovers the chemical element helium.
* Thomas Henry Huxley discovers what he thinks is a primordial matter and names it "bathybius haecklii" (he admits his mistake in 1871)
* Archibald Campbell Tait enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Births

* 25 March - William Lockwood, cricketer (died 1932)
* 10 April - George Arliss, actor (died 1946)
* 28 April - Lucy Booth, the fifth daughter of William and Catherine Booth (died 1953)
* 6 June - Robert Falcon Scott, explorer (died 1912)
* 7 June - Charles Rennie Mackintosh, architect (died 1928)
* 6 July - Princess Victoria Alexandra of the United Kingdom, (died 1935)
* 14 July - Gertrude Bell, archaeologist, writer, spy and administrator (died 1926)

Deaths

* 10 February - David Brewster, scientist, inventor and writer (born 1781)
* 28 March - James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, military leader (born 1797)
* 7 May - Henry Peter Brougham, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain (born 1778)
* 17 August - Duncan Forbes, linguist (born 1798)
* 24 September - Henry Hart Milman, historian and ecclesiastic (born 1791)
* 27 October - Charles Thomas Longley, Archbishop of Canterbury (born 1794)

References

ee also