What Happened in 1851 — Events, Births & Deaths

Taiping Rebellion: Hong Xiuquan proclaims the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, starting the Jintian Uprising.

The largest Australian bushfires in a populous region in recorded history take place in the state of Victoria.

The first performance of Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi takes place in Venice.

Queen Victoria opens The Great Exhibition at The Crystal Palace in London.

The first Australian gold rush is proclaimed, although the discovery had been made three months earlier.

Isaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine.

The first America's Cup is won by the yacht America.

Herman Melville's Moby-Dick is first published as The Whale by Richard Bentley of London.

Conservative Santiago-based government troops defeat rebels at the Battle of Loncomilla, signaling the end of the 1851 Chilean Revolution.