|  | Date | Event(s) | 
	
| 1 | 1857 | 1857—1857: Work starts on the laying of the Transatlantic cable
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| 2 | 1858 | 1858—1858: 'The great stink' -  smell of the River Thames forced Parliament to stop work1858—1858: Royal Opera House opens in Covent Garden, London
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| 3 | 1859 | 1859—1859: Peaceful picketing legalised in Britain25 Apr 1859—25 Apr 1859: Work started on building the Suez canal (opened 17 Nov 1869)4 May 1859—4 May 1859: Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge opened at Saltash giving rail link between Devon
and Cornwall24 Nov 1859—24 Nov 1859: Charles Darwin publishes 'The Origin of Species'
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| 4 | 1860 | 29 Aug 1860—29 Aug 1860: First tram service in Europe starts in Birkenhead
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| 5 | 1861 | 25 May 1861—25 May 1861: American Civil War begins
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