1868 in the United Kingdom Information & 1868 in the United Kingdom Links at HealthHaven.com

Events from the year 1868 in the United Kingdom.

[edit] 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

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]

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.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 2006. ISBN 0-141-02715-0.
^ ^a ^b Palmer, Alan & Veronica (1992). The Chronology of British History. London: Century Ltd. pp. 289–290. ISBN 0-7126-5616-2.