What Happened in 1853

Major Events

  • Jun 24 US President Franklin Pierce signs the Gadsden Purchase, buying 29,670 square-miles (76,800 square km) from Mexico for $10 million (now southern Arizona and New Mexico)
  • Jul 8 Commodore Matthew C. Perry sails his frigate Susquehanna into Tokyo Bay, opening Japan to Western influence and trade
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1853 in Music

Did You Know?

William Wells Brown publishes "Clotel", 1st novel by an African American

July 6, 1853


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Fun Fact About 1853

Dinner party held inside life-sized model of an Iguanodon (ornithopod dinosaur), created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and Sir Richard Owen in South London

December 30, 1853


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Famous Weddings in 1853

  • Jan 30 Emperor and French President Napoleon III marries Eugenie de Montijo, Countess of Teba
  • May 19 Dutch prince Henry marries princess Amalia of Saxony-Weimar
  • Jun 13 Prince Albert of Prussia (41) weds second wife, German noblewoman Rosalie Wilhelmine Johanna von Rauch (33), in Berlin, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia

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