1861: what happened around the world

In 1861, 119 events recorded on Erask's globe began — American Civil War, Battle of Fort Sumter and First Battle of Bull Run among the best known. 82 more were already under way, such as Taiping Rebellion and Caucasian War. 97 things were founded or built that year, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Kingdom of Italy.

119events began
82already under way
97founded or built
See 1861 on the globe →

Wars, battles and sieges94

+54 less-known, on the globe.

Revolts, massacres and attacks11

Accidents and fires6

Disasters5

Treaties, councils and politics2

Expeditions1

Already under way in 186182

Came to an end in 18619

Founded or built in 186197

+67 more, on the globe.

Stories that pass through 1861

Volcanic EruptionsEvery significant eruption on record since 1500 How America Filled UpEvery American city of 60,000 people, in the year it began The American Civil WarOne country, torn in two and taken back battle by battle, 1860–1865

Nearby years

1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 All of the 19th century →

Every entry comes from Wikidata and links to its Wikipedia article; entries are ordered by how many language editions of Wikipedia cover them. Only things with a date are listed, and dates before the modern era are often approximate. How this is made →