July 8
July 8
Commodore Perry sails into Tokyo Bay
Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, representing the U.S. government, sails into Tokyo Bay, Japan, with a squadron of four vessels. For a time, Japanese officials refused to speak with Perry, but…
A Year In History: 1853
This Year in History:
1853
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
July 25
July 25
California Rangers kill Joaquin Murrieta
In a macabre instance of rough frontier justice, California Rangers claim a $6,000 award by bringing in the severed head—preserved in whiskey—of outlaw Joaquin Murrieta. In the early months of…
October 20
October 20
French poet Arthur Rimbaud is born
On October 20, 1853, Arthur Rimbaud is born in Charleville, France. His father, an army officer, deserted the family when Rimbaud was six. Rimbaud was a brilliant student, and his…
October 25
October 25
Native Americans attack transcontinental railroad survey crew in Utah
On October 25, 1853, members of the Paiute Indian Tribe attack U.S. Army Captain John W. Gunnison and his party of 37 soldiers and railroad surveyors near Sevier Lake, Utah. Gunnison and…
December 30
December 30
Southern U.S. border established
James Gadsden, the U.S. minister to Mexico, and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the president of Mexico, sign the Gadsden Purchase in Mexico City. The treaty settled the dispute…
