istoryworld
Events relating to the british empire
The British North America Act, acknowledging the fears of French Catholics in Canada, guarantees the rights of "dissentient schools"
Four former colonies (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec) unite to form the new nation of Canada with Ottawa as the capital
The Canadian nation is called the Dominion of Canada – the first example of 'dominion status'
Britain annexes Basutoland (now Lesotho), the kingdom of the Sotho leader Moshoeshoe
The territory of the Hudson's Bay Company is transferred to the new state of Canada
Britain, France and Italy take joint control of the finances of a bankrupt Tunisia
The proprietor of the New York Herald gives Henry Morton Stanley a very concise commission – 'Find Livingstone'
British explorer Samuel Baker annexes the southern Sudan, or Equatoria, on behalf of the khedive of Egypt
18-year-old English entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes, on a temporary visit to South Africa, arrives in the new diamond town of Kimberley
Stanley, finding Livingstone at Ujiji, greets him with four words which become famous – 'Dr Livingstone, I presume'
The southern region of present-day Ghana becomes a British colony, to be known as the Gold Coast
Stanley sets off from Bagamoyo, intending to resume the exploration of central Africa where Livingstone left off
The chaotic government finances of Egypt are placed under joint French and British control
Stanley passes Nyangwe on the Lualaba, the furthest point down the Congo river system reached by Livingstone
India becomes the 'jewel in the crown' of Queen Victoria when Benjamin Disraeli secures for her the title Empress of India
Leopold II hosts a conference in Brussels on the subject of opening up the African continent
Britain annexes the Boer republic in the Transvaal
Stanley completes his exploration of the Congo, reaching the Atlantic coast at Boma after a three-year journey
Three British armies invade Afghanistan, beginning the second Anglo-Afghan War
The British find a pretext to march into the territory ruled by Cetshwayo, thus launching the Zulu War
Zulu tribesmen surprise and annihilate a British army encamped near Isandhlwana
Immediately after Isandhlwana a tiny British garrison at Rorke's Drift fights off an overwhelming Zulu attack
George Goldie and British traders on the Niger form the United African Company (later the Royal Niger Company) to consolidate their interests
The British destruction of Cetshwayo's kraal at Ulundi ends the Zulu War
The Boers inflict a convincing defeat on a British army at Majuba, in the Transvaal
