1858 - What happened in 1858 ?

January 1858

Thursday 14:

Napoleon III of France escapes an assassination attempt.

Monday 25:

The Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn becomes a popular wedding recessional after it is played on this day at the marriage of Queen Victoria's daughter, Victoria, and Friedrich of Prussia.

February 1858

Thursday 11:

The Blessed Virgin Mary reputedly appears to Saint Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes.

March 1858

Tuesday 30:

Hyman Lipman patents a pencil with an attached eraser.

May 1858

Tuesday 11:

Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd U.S. state.

Saturday 15:

The third Royal Opera House officially opens in London.

June 1858

Wednesday 16:

Battle of Morar, during the Indian Mutiny.

Friday 18:

Charles Darwin receives from Alfred Russel Wallace a paper that included nearly identical conclusions about evolution as Darwin's own. This prompts Darwin to publish his theory.

Wednesday 23:

Six-year-old Edgardo Mortara is seized by Papal authorities.

July 1858

Thursday 01:

The joint reading of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace's papers on evolution to the Linnean Society.

Thursday 29:

United States and Japan sign the Harris Treaty.

August 1858

Thursday 05:

Cyrus West Field and others complete the first transatlantic telegraph cable after several unsuccessful attempts. It operated for less than a month.

Monday 16:

U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph cable cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. However, a weak signal will force a shutdown of the service in a few weeks.

Saturday 21:

The Lincoln-Douglas debates begin

Tuesday 24:

In Richmond, Virginia, 90 blacks are arrested for learning.

Thursday 26:

First news dispatch by telegraph.

September 1858

Friday 10:

George Mary Searle discovers the asteroid 55 Pandora.