What Happened in 1852 — Events, Births & Deaths

The New Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, opens to the public.

The Helsinki Cathedral (known as St. Nicholas' Church at time) is officially inaugurated in Helsinki, Finland.

Congress establishes the United States' 2nd mint in San Francisco.

Harvard University wins the first Boat Race between Yale University and Harvard. The race is also known as the first ever American intercollegiate athletic event.

Tlingit Indians destroy Fort Selkirk, Yukon Territory.

The first powered, passenger-carrying airship, the Giffard dirigible, travels 17 miles (27 km) from Paris to Trappes.

The University of Sydney, Australia's oldest university, is inaugurated in Sydney.

Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, becomes the prime minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, which soon expands to become Italy.