Jul 15 Natal forms as a British colony separate from Cape Colony Jul 16 Statue of Laurens Jansz Coster unveiled in Haarlem Jul 17 The Great Train Wreck of 1856 between Camp Hill and Fort Washington, Pennsylvania kills over 60 people Jul 31 Christchurch, New Zealand, is chartered as a city. Share On Facebook Share On Twitter 1855 Historical Events by Year 1857