Data for 1861

Throughout the year, several U.S. states secede from the Union (Jan-Dec), Abraham Lincoln escapes a probable assassination attempt (Feb 23), serfdom is abolished in the Russian Empire (Mar 3), Lincoln becomes the 16th president of a United States at the brink of a civil war, while the Stars and Bars becomes the flag of the Confederate States of America (Mar 4), the war begins with the bombardment of Fort Sumter, South Carolina, which falls to South (Apr 12), Richmond in Virginia becomes the capital of the Confederate States (May 8), the mail service Pony Express announces its closure (Oct 26), the American Civil War rages on, until 1865 – and all these fine people were born: