What Happened in 1860 — Events, Births & Deaths

The First Taranaki War begins in Taranaki, New Zealand, a major phase of the New Zealand Wars.

Sakuradamon Incident: Japanese chief minister (Tairō) Ii Naosuke is assassinated by rōnin samurai outside the Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle.

First Taranaki War: The Battle of Waireka begins.

United States presidential election: Abraham Lincoln wins the Republican Party presidential nomination over William H. Seward, who later becomes the United States Secretary of State.

The future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom begins the first visit to North America by a Prince of Wales.

The Second Opium War finally ends at the Convention of Peking with the ratification of the Treaty of Tientsin, an unequal treaty.

Unification of Italy: The Expedition of the Thousand ends when Giuseppe Garibaldi presents his conquests to King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia.

Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president of the United States with only 40% of the popular vote, defeating John C. Breckinridge, John Bell, and Stephen A. Douglas in a four-way race.

Fisgard Lighthouse, built in the Colony of Vancouver Island, shines its first light, becoming the first permanent lighthouse in present-day British Columbia

South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States with the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.

First Rules derby is held between Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C., the oldest football fixture in the world.

The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour, renders all previous warships obsolete.