January 1 1st official horse race in South Australia-Adelaide January 6 Samuel Morse made 1st public demonstration of telegraph January 8 1st telegraph message sent using dots and dashes in New Jersey January 8 Rebellion at Amherstburg, Ontario breaks out January 26 Tennessee becomes 1st state to prohibit alcohol February 16 Kentucky passes law permitting women to attend school under conditions February 25 London pedestrian walks 20 miles backward then forward in 8 hours March 3 Rebellion at Pelee Island, Ontario Canada March 6 Franz Grillparzer's "Weh dem, der Lugt," premieres in Vienna March 8 U.S. Mint in New Orleans begins operation (producing dimes) April 8 Steamship "Great Western" maiden voyage (Bristol England to New York City) April 9 National Galley opens in London April 18 Wilkes' expedition to South Pole sails April 22 English steamship "Sirius" docks in New York City after Atlantic crossing April 23 English steamship "Great Western" crossing Atlantic docks in New York City April 27 Fire destroys half of Charleston April 30 Nicaragua declares independence from Central American federation June 11 Iowa Territory is organized June 12 Hopkins Observatory, dedicated in Williamstown, Massachusetts June 12 Iowa Territory forms June 28 Britain's Queen Victoria crowned in Westminster Abbey July 7 Central American federation is dissolved July 8 Arabs attack Jewish community of Safed August 1 Emancipation of British slaves on Bahamas August 18 1st U.S. marine expedition August 23 Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (South Hadley, Mass) 1st graduating class September 3 Frederick Douglass escapes from slavery disguised as a sailor September 5 Central Museum opens in Utrecht Netherlands September 10 Hector Berlioz' opera "Benvenuto Cellini," premieres in Paris September 18 Anti-Corn Law League established by Richard Cobden September 19 Ephraim Morris patents railroad brake September 24 Anti-Corn-Law League forms to repeal English Corn Law October 1 Civil Code enforced (- Jan 1, 1992) November 5 Honduras declares independence of Central American Federation November 8 Victor Hugo's "Ruy Blas," premieres in Paris November 11 Emma Wedgwood accepts Charles Darwin's marriage proposal November 30 Mexico declares war on France December 16 Boers beat Zulu chieftain Dingaan in South Africa
