The Victorian era spanned from 1837 to 1901 during Queen Victoria's reign. It was a time of immense industrial and technological progress including the rise of railroads, electric telegraph, telephone, and postage stamps. However, it also saw the demise of rural life and long factory work hours. Key events included the abolition of slavery in the British Empire, the Irish Potato Famine, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, and Jack the Ripper murders in London. Queen Victoria died in 1901, ending the Victorian era.

1. VICTORIAN ERA TIMELINE
THE PERIOD OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S REIGN, FROM 1837
UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1901 WAS MARKED BY SWEEPING
PROGRESS AND INGENUITY.
PROFESSOR: AXEL HUBER VILLEGAS
UGMEX VERACRUZ

2.  It was the time of the world’s first Industrial Revolution, political reform and
social change, Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin, a railway boom and the
first telephone and telegraph. But the Victorian Era—the 63-year period from
1837-1901 that marked the reign of England’s Queen Victoria—also saw a
demise of rural life as cities rapidly grew and expanded, long and regimented
factory hours, the start of the Crimean War and Jack the Ripper.

3.  Victoria, who ascended the
throne at age 18 following
the death of her uncle,
William IV, is Britain’s
second-longest reigning
monarch (surpassed by
Queen Elizabeth II). At just
4-feet-11-inches tall, her
rule during one of Britain’s
greatest eras saw the
country serving as the
world’s biggest empire,
with one-fourth of the
global population owing
allegiance to the queen.

4. HERE IS A TIMELINE OF INNOVATIONS AND EVENTS THAT HELPED
DEFINE THE VICTORIAN ERA.

5.  June 20, 1837: Queen Victoria takes
the crown at the age of 18. The
granddaughter of King George III, her
father died when she was just 8
months old, and her three uncles also
died, putting her first in line as heir to
the throne.

6. JULY 25, 1837:
 The first electric telegraph is sent
between English inventor William
Fothergill Cooke and scientist
Charles Wheatstone, who went on
to found The Electric Telegraph
Company

7. AUG. 1, 1834:
 The British empire abolishes slavery,
and more than 800,000 slaves in the
British Caribbean are freed. The
government provides damages to
slave owners, but nothing to slaves.

8. MAY 8, 1838:
 The People’s Charter, the result of a political and social
reform protest movement, calls for a more democratic
system including six points: the right to vote for men age
21 and older; no property qualification to run for
Parliament; annual elections; equal representation;
payment for members of Parliament; and vote by secret
ballot.

9. SEPT. 17, 1838:
 The first modern
railroad line, the
London-
Birmingham
Railway, opens,
starting the steam-
powered railway
boom and
revolutionizing
travel.

10. MAY 1, 1840:
 The Penny Black, the world’s first postage stamp sold for one
penny, is released in Britain, featuring a profile portrait of
Queen Victoria. More than 70 millions letters are sent within
the next year, a number tripled in two years. It’s soon copied
in other countries, and the stamp is used for 40 years.

11. FEB. 10, 1840:
 Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert of Saxe-
Coburg-Gotha, her first cousin. As queen, she
was the one to propose. During their 17
years of marriage (until Albert died of
typhoid in 1861) the couple had nine
children.

12. DEC. 19, 1843:
 Charles Dickens, one of the
era’s greatest writers,
publishes A Christmas Carol.
Other works from the author
during this period: Oliver
Twist, Great
Expectations, David
Copperfield and Nicholas
Nickleby, among others

13. SEPTEMBER 1845:
 Ireland’s potato crop begins to rot,
causing the four-year Irish Potato
Famine, also known as the Great
Hunger, that lead to 1 million deaths
and caused 1 million people to
emigrate from the country, landing in
various cities throughout North
America and Great Britain.

14. MAY 1, 1851
 The brainchild of Prince Albert,
the Great Exhibition opens in
London’s Crystal Palace, with
10,000-plus exhibitors displaying
the world’s technological
wonders—from false teeth to
farm machinery to telescopes. Six
million visitors attend what
would become the first World’s
Fair, before it closes in October.

15. DEC. 24, 1853:
 The Vaccination Act makes it
mandatory for children born after
Aug. 1, 1853, to be vaccinated
against smallpox. Parents failing
to comply are fined or
imprisoned.

16.  France and Britain declare war on Russia,
launching the Crimean War, which largely
surrounds the protection of the rights of
minority Christians in the Ottoman Empire.
History’s most famous nurse, Florence
Nightingale, helps reduce the death count
by two-thirds by improving unsanitary
conditions.
March 28, 1854:

17. NOV. 24, 1859:
 The controversial On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, is published,
presenting his theory of natural selection and questioning the theory of
creation.

18. DEC. 9, 1868:
 Liberal William Gladstone defeats Conservative Benjamin
Disraeli to become prime minister, a position he held for
four terms. His legacy includes reform for Ireland,
establishing an elementary education program and
instituting secret ballot voting.

19. MARCH 7, 1876:
 Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell
is awarded a patent on his
invention of the telephone, and,
three days later, famously makes
the first phone call to Thomas
Watson, his assistant.

20. MAY 1, 1876:
 India, which has been under
British rule since 1858, declares
Queen Victoria empress, under
direction of Prime Minister
Benjamin Disraeli.

21. AUG.-NOV. 1888:
 An unknown killer, named Jack the Ripper, murders and mutilates
five prostitutes in London.

22.  Queen Victoria dies on the Isle of Wight at age 81,
ending the Victorian Era. She is succeeded by Edward
VI, her eldest son, who reigned until his death in
1910.
Jan. 22, 1901:

23. CITATION INFORMATION
 Article Title
 Victorian Era Timeline
 Author
 History.com Editors
 Website Name
 HISTORY
 URL
 https://www.history.com/topics/19th-
century/victorian-era-timeline
 Access Date
 31 de agosto de 2019
 Publisher
 A&E Television Networks
 Last Updated
 July 2, 2019
 Original Published Date
 March 15, 2019