Events from the year 1853 in the United Kingdom.
Incumbents
Events
- 20 January â the United Kingdom annexes Lower Burma ending the Second Anglo-Burmese War.
- 4 February â Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society takes its first deposits.
- 14 February â United Kingdom Alliance for the Suppression of the Traffic in all Intoxicating Liquors formed in Manchester.
- 15 February â PS Queen Victoria sinks in a snowstorm at night entering Dublin Bay with the loss of more than 80 lives.
- 18 February â a treaty is signed with the United States concerning international copyright.
- 29 March â Manchester is granted city status by letters patent.
- May â the world's first public aquarium is opened in London Zoo.
- 5 May â Perpetual Maritime Truce comes into force between the United Kingdom and the rulers of the Sheikhdoms of the Lower Gulf, later known as the Trucial States.
- 6 June â naval fleet travels to Besika Bay to fend off Russian threats to the Ottoman Empire.
- 25 June â Hochster v De La Tour, a landmark case on anticipatory breach of contract in English contract law, is decided in the Court of Queen's Bench.
- 1 July â first constitution of the Cape Colony provides for a legislative council.
- 1 August â under terms of the Vaccination Act 1853, all children born after this date are to receive compulsory vaccination against smallpox during their first 3 months of life, with defaulting parents subject to a fine.
- 12 August â Licensing (Scotland) Act (known after its sponsor as the 'Forbes Mackenzie Act') regulates the supply of intoxicating beverages in Scotland.
- 20 August
- Penal Servitude Act provides for convicted criminals to serve their entire sentence in prison, rather than suffer transportation, and also to be freed on licence.
- Betting Act (An Act for the Suppression of Betting Houses) prohibits betting shops, restricting legal betting on horse racing to racecourses.
- September (approx.) â first pillar box on the British mainland erected in Carlisle.
- 14 September â West Australian becomes the first horse to win the English Triple Crown by finishing first in the Epsom Derby, 2,000 Guineas and St Leger.
- 28 September â emigrant ship Annie Jane sinks in heavy seas off the Scottish island of Vatersay with the loss of 350 lives.
- 31 OctoberâÂÂ15 May 1854 â lockout of Preston cotton mill workers seeking reinstatement of ten per cent of their pay; this will be Britain's longest industrial dispute up to this date.
- 3 December â Crimean War: a protocol is signed with France, Austria, and Prussia for restoring peace between Russia and Turkey.
- 14 December â Palmerston resigns as Home Secretary over demands for parliamentary reform, but changes his mind on 23 December.
- 15 December â the Sierra redwood Sequoiadendron giganteum is introduced to England as Wellingtonia by William Lobb.
Undated
Publications
Births
Deaths
References