-
Birth of Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria was born the only child of Edward Duke of Kent and Princess Mary Victoria of Saxe-Coburg in Kensington Palace (Felder 134). She was born the fifth in line for the throne, following her father and his 3 brothers ("Queen Victoria" History.com). Her father died not a year later, and she was left to be raised by her mother and her governess (Swisher 13). Her mother's strict rules prevented Victoria from exploring, since her rules shielded young Victoria from society (Felder 134). -
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
Ludwig van Beethoven completed and performed his Symphony No. 9 in Vienna, Austria in 1824 (Grun & Stein, 1991, p.389). This was his first public concert in over a decade, and at the time, Beethoven became entirely deaf. As a musician, not being able to hear his music put him into a state of despair, which resulted in the themes and emotional depth of his Symphony No. 9. Even today, musicians look up to Beethoven for his accomplishments for creating "new forms of spirit in music "(Gutmann). -
Joseph Smith founds Religious Society of Mormons
In 1830, Joseph Smith and friends set of the Religious Society of Mormons in Fayette, New York (Grun & Stein, 1991, p. 392). In 1830, many people believed that Mormonism would be a short lived religion, but as it is today, it is still a largely supported religious practice. Because many Mormons felt persecuted by their New York neighbors in the mid nineteenth century, they eventually moved south to present-day Salt Lake City, Utah- where many Mormons live and practice today (Scott). -
Queen Victoria's Cornonation
Queen Victoria's official coronation ceremony was hosted at Westminster Abbey when she was nineteen years old (Felder 135). The event took five hours, yet there were some faltering moments, such as when the bishop wrongly told her the service was over, and when her ring was put on the wrong finger. Even through the chaos, Victoria still wrote the day was "the proudest of my life" ("Victoria" Westminster Abbey). This would mark the start of Queen Victoria's reign over the empire of Great Britain. -
Marriage between Victoria and Albert
The wedding of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria was held in the Chapel Royal, St. James' Palace (Farmer 160). As was tradition, Victoria was the one to purpose to her first cousin, and Albert was quick to agree (Swisher 16). The wedding was the first English royal wedding "since Bloody Mary almost 300 years before". Victoria wore a white lace gown- a fashion trend that is still popular today. The day marked the start of a romance and strong companionship that would last 20 years (Cavendish). -
Victoria's first son
Prince Albert Edward was the second of nine children. Victoria and Albert tried to control his behavior, but when he got older, "he rebelled..with indulgence in food, drink, women, gambling and sport." Even with his behavior, he took a minor role in government when Victoria went into despair."Bertie" will always be resented for his behavior, yet praised at forming alliances and restoring the "sparkle" of the British monarch when he became king after Victoria's death ("Edward VII" Biography.com). -
The Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition of 1851 was Prince Albert's idea to show off the "industrial supremacy and prosperity" of Great Britain. There were over 13,000 exhibitors, and held in the "Crystal Palace", designed by Joseph Paxton. Following the exhibition, Queen Victoria wrote, "...one of the greatest and most glorious days of our lives, with which, to my pride and joy to the name of my dearly beloved Albert is forever associated." It was the first time Albert was embraced by the public (Bernard 61). -
Prince Albert dies
Prince Albert died of typhoid fever after being wrongly diagnosed with influenza in 1861 (Canning 545). Queen Victoria will mourn his death for 40 years (Ashby 107) and wear black until her death. Victoria shielded herself from the public for 3 years (Felder 135), which left Britain distrustful of its monarch. She was known as "Widow of Windsor", and after his death, she wrote, "..can only hope never to live to old age but be allowed to rejoin her...husband before many years.."(The Telegraph). -
Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables"
French writer Victor Hugo published his revolutionary classic "Les Miserables" in 1862 (Grun & Stein, 1991, p. 424). He originally began working on it in 1843, but he had to run away to Brussels, for there was a coup in France. His work while in exile "conveys biting sarcasm and fierce social criticism," resulting in the final product of "Les Miserables" (Biography.com). "Les Miserables" is still one of the most influential pieces of literature from the French Revolution in present day society. -
Opening of Royal Albert Hall Memorial
Victoria and her son, Edward, opened the Royal Albert Hall in memory of the her late Albert (Phillips 210). It was one of the rare public appearances Victoria made after her husband's death (Griffin). 10,000 people came to witness the opening of The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences, renamed as a last romantic gesture. On the day of, she was overcome with emotion that she handed off the opening to her son. The event was a memorial to a companionship that shaped the Victorian era (Bennett). -
"Empress of India"
Prime minister Benjamin Disraeli created the act called the Royal Titles Act that named Victoria "Empress of India "(Ashby 107). It was "a sign of her popularity and of British imperial sentiment"(Queen Victoria- Information...). Victoria, at the time, was in a period of deep mourning of her husband and was starting to gain unpopularity with her subjects and government. This event helped to promote the British monarchy and regain some of the queen's loyal subjects ("Queen Victoria" History.com). -
Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone
In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell completed his invention of the telephone (Grun & Phil, 1991, p. 437). On March 7, he received his patent for his creation of the telephone, yet with later years, he'll face many legal challenges on the fact if he was the sole inventor. His famous line of "Mr. Watson, come here; I want you" was the first sentence said over Bell's telephone in his laboratory (History.com). The invention of the telephone is the basis of our advancement in cellular technology today. -
Wilhelm Wundt opens Institution of Experimental Psychology
In 1879, the Institution of Experimental Psychology opened at the University of Leipzig, Germany. The founder, Wilhelm Wundt, was the first to create a laboratory dedicated to psychology and the event "is usually thought of as the beginning of modern psychology" (McLeod). Wundt conducted research at the facility on how the mind and stimuli worked to produce certain reactions. These experiments helped to create the fundamental principles on the basics of psychology today (Plucker). -
Victoria's 50th Anniversary
"Half a million people lined the streets of London" to celebrate The Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria on the throne (Bernard 5). She wrote that "the Princes were all in uniform, and the Princesses were all beautifully dressed." Many kings, queens, and representatives from her colonies came, and the day was spent eating, dancing, and waving at her people. The event was very rare, since only a few monarchs, even today, have celebrated a 50 year milestone (The Royal Family). -
Henry Ford's first prototype
Henry Ford built his first prototype of a car in 1896. The car was called a quadricycle and was "consisted of...four bicycle wheels and powered by a...gasoline engine" (History.com Staff). Ford put the quadricycle on the market to earn money to make new models. During the same year, Thomas Edison encouraged Ford to make a "second, better model" ("Henry Ford" Biography.com). This prototype was the start of the Ford company and the advances made to automobiles across the United States. -
Queen Victoria dies
At the age of 81, Queen Victoria died on the Isle of Wight as the longest reigning monarchy of Great Britain with 37 grandchildren (Ashby 108). She died with an immense empire of "18 major territories" (Bernard 8), including New Zealand and parts of Central and South Africa (Canning 546). She reigned during the industrial revolution and worked hard to improve conditions for the working class (Bernard 7). Her death concluded the Victorian Era and "ushered in the new Edwardian era" (Felder 136).
