| Year | Event |
|---|
Domestic Politics |
|---|
| 1829 |
Catholic Emancipation in Ireland—Catholics allowed to vote. |
| 1832 |
First Reform Act—Whigs take control of Parliament. |
| 1833 |
Abolition of Slavery in British colonies. |
| 1837 |
Queen Victoria ascends to the throne of England. |
| 1846 |
Potato Famine in Ireland; Repeal of the Corn Laws enhances Free Trade. |
| 1851 |
The Great Exhibition opens in the Crystal Palace in London |
| 1868-74 |
First Ministry of William Gladstone—promotes a liberal reform agenda. |
| 1874-80 |
Second Ministry of Benjamin Disraeli—promotes a conservative imperial agenda. |
| 1875 |
Egyptian Share of Suez canal is sold to Britain. |
| 1887 |
Fiftieth year Jubilee of Queen Victoria. |
| 1901 |
Death of Queen Victoria |
Wars and Conflicts |
|---|
| 1842 |
Retreat from Afghanistan—Massacre of British Army at Kyber Pass. |
| 1854-56 |
Crimean War—Britain allies itself with Ottomans to oppose Russian expansion. |
| 1857 |
Indian Mutiny —rebellion of Sepoys put down with great slaughter. |
| 1879 |
Zulu Wars—British prevail over Zulus after suffering a massacre at Isandhlwana |
| 1880 |
First Boer War—British concede to Boer demands after suffering serious defeats. |
| 1882 |
Arabi's Rebellion put down at the Battle of Tel-al-Kebar. |
| 1883-1904 |
Soudan Campaign—British quell a murderous Moslem fanatic cult in the Soudan. |
| 1885 |
Death of Charles Gordon at the Siege of Khartoum—British relief fails to arrive in time. |
| 1898 |
Horatio Kitchener defeats the rebel Madhists at the Battle of Obdurman. |
| 1899-1901 |
Second Boer War—Hard fought victory forces the Boers to submit to British rule. |
Exploration and Discovery |
|---|
| 1852 |
David Livingstone begins his first expedition into Africa. |
| 1858 |
The first trans-Atlantic cable is laid from Ireland to Newfoundland. |
Arts and Culture |
|---|
| 1870 |
Death of Charles Dickens, popular British novelist. |