What happened in 1854
10 entries recorded for 1854, listed by date. That was 172 years ago.
1854 at a glance
- Years ago
- 172 (as of 2026)
- Century
- 19th century
- Decade
- 1850s
- Generation born
- Before the named generations
- Entries here
- 10
- Breakdown
- 10 historical events
February
- February 23
Orange River Convention
The Orange River Convention was signed in Bloemfontein, with the United Kingdom agreeing to recognise the independence of the Orange Free State in present-day South Africa.
March
- March 20
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin, by politicians opposing the Kansas–Nebraska Act and the expansion of slavery in the United States.
- March 31
United States Navy
U.S. Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry (Japanese depiction pictured) and the Tokugawa shogunate signed the Convention of Kanagawa, forcing the opening of Japanese ports to American trade.
May
- May 30
Kansas–Nebraska Act
The Kansas–Nebraska Act became law, establishing the U.S. territories of Nebraska and Kansas, and allowing their settlers to determine if slavery would be permitted.
September
- September 27
Paddle steamer
The paddle steamer SS Arctic sank after a collision with SS Vesta 50 miles (80 km) off the coast of Newfoundland, killing approximately 320 people.
October
- October 21
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale and a staff of 38 nurses and 15 nuns were sent to the Ottoman Empire to help treat wounded British soldiers fighting in the Crimean War.
- October 25
Crimean War
Crimean War: The ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade was decisively repelled by Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava.
November
- November 5
Crimean War
Crimean War: Despite being severely outnumbered, and fighting in heavy foggy conditions, the allied armies of the United Kingdom and France defeated the Russians in present-day Inkerman, Ukraine.
- November 29
Eureka Flag
An estimated crowd of more than 10,000 demonstrators swore allegiance to the Eureka Flag (pictured) as a symbol of defiance in advance of the Eureka Rebellion in Ballarat, Australia.
December
- December 8
Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX promulgated the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus, proclaiming the dogmatic definition of the Immaculate Conception, which holds that the Virgin Mary was conceived free of original sin.
Questions about 1854
What happened in 1854?
This site records 10 entries for 1854, including Orange River Convention on February 23. They are listed below by date.
How long ago was 1854?
172 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1854 turns 172 this year.
Which century is 1854 in?
1854 falls in the 19th century, in the 1850s.
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