In 1864 Spain seized Peru's bird-dropping islands.
Guano from the Chincha Islands brought in almost 60% of Peru's government revenue, and the seizure led to war between Spain, Peru and Chile.
More amazing facts
- 1863 · 1865 Slaves in Texas learned they were free 900 days late: Lincoln's proclamation took effect on 1 January 1863, but it was announced in Galveston only on 19 June 1865, now celebrated as Juneteenth.
- 1863 · 1901 The founder of the Red Cross won the first Nobel Peace Prize while living in a care home.
- 1864 Olivier salad was invented in the 1860s by Lucien Olivier, a chef of French and Belgian origin at Moscow's Hermitage restaurant.
- 1865 The US paid a Civil War pension until 2020.
- 1865 Under an 1865 British law, a man with a red flag had to walk 60 yards ahead of any road locomotive.
- 1865 Welsh is still spoken in Argentine Patagonia.