On This Day

Historical Events in June 1859

  • Jun 4 Second Italian War of Independence: Battle of Magenta, results in a French-Sardinian victory under Napoleon III over the Austrians under Marshal Ferencz Gyulai
  • Jun 6 Australia: Queensland is established as a separate colony from New South Wales (Queensland Day).
  • Jun 12 Comstock Silver Lode in Nevada discovered, first major silver discovery in the US
  • Jun 15 Pig War: Ambiguity in the Oregon Treaty leads to the "Northwestern Boundary Dispute" between U.S. and British/Canadian settlers

Victory in battleVictory in Battle

Jun 24 Battle of Solferino, Northern Italy: a French Army under Napoleon III and Sardinian Army under Victor Emmanuel II overcame the Austrian Army under Emperor Franz Joseph I

King of Sardinia and Italy Victor Emmanuel II
King of Sardinia and Italy
Victor Emmanuel II
  • Jun 28 1st dog show held (Newcastle-on-Tyne, England)
  • Jun 30 French acrobat Charles Blondin is 1st to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope

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