- Mar 1 Adolphe Thiers becomes prime minister of France
- Mar 5 2nd Grand National: Bartholomew Bretherton wins aboard 16/1 Jerry; a then smallest field of 13
- Mar 14 Jose Zorilla's romantic drama "El Zapatero y el Rey" premieres in Madrid
- Mar 23 Draper takes 1st successful photo of the Moon (daguerreotype)