1868 in the United Kingdom
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1868 in the United Kingdom:

Other years

1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 | 1870

Sport

1868 English cricket season

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.^[1]
• 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.^[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.^[1]
• 29 June - the Press Association founded in London.^[1]
• 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.^[2]
• 24 November - The Smithfield Meat Market opens in London.^[1]
• 3 December - William Ewart Gladstone becomes Prime Minister.
• 10 December
  • Whitaker's Almanack first published.^[1]
  • The world's first traffic lights are installed in Parliament Square in London.^[1]

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

See also