The year 1860 was a pivotal year, witnessing significant events across the globe in politics, science, culture, and technology. In the United States, escalating tensions over slavery led to a divisive presidential election, setting the stage for the Civil War.
Political Events
January 29: Anton Chekhov, noted Russian playwright and short-story writer, is born in Taganrog, Russia. (Cultural)
February 27: Abraham Lincoln delivers his famous Cooper Union speech in New York City, solidifying his position as a leading voice in the Republican Party. This speech significantly boosted his chances in the upcoming presidential election. (US Political)
April 3 – April 18: The Pony Express begins its first run from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, drastically reducing the time for mail delivery across the western territories. (Technology & US )
May 9: The Whig Party, already weakened, holds its last national convention in Baltimore, Maryland. (US Political)
May 18: Abraham Lincoln is nominated for President by the Republican Party at their national convention in Chicago. (US Political)
June 22: The Crown Princess Victoria of Prussia, future German Empress, gives birth to Prince William, later Kaiser Wilhelm II. (International Political)
August 16: Giuseppe Garibaldi begins his invasion of mainland Southern Italy. (International Political)
November 6: Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th President of the United States. His election triggers secessionist movements in the Southern states. (US Political)
December 20: South Carolina secedes from the United States, marking the beginning of the secession crisis and the prelude to the American Civil War. (US Political)
Scientific Events
September 23-29: The Karlsruhe Congress, the first international conference of chemists, is held in Karlsruhe, Germany. This event was crucial in establishing a consensus on atomic weights and molecular formulas, contributing significantly to the development of modern chemistry.
June 30: Publication of Traité Élémentaire de Chimie Organique, by Charles Gerhardt (posthumously) which establishes the modern view of organic chemistry.
Cultural Events
May 17:The Marble Faun by Nathaniel Hawthorne is published.
December 1: Publication of Slavery Ordained of God by Reverend Fred A. Ross, supporting the biblical justification of slavery. (US Cultural & US Political)
Technological Events
Improved manufacturing processes lead to increased production and affordability of goods, furthering the Industrial Revolution in both Europe and the United States.