World History 1852

About the history of the world in 1852, first practical dirigible balloon is flown, Napoleon the Third becomes emperor of France.

TWO CENTURIES OF WORLD HISTORY: 1778-1978

1852

* In Paris, Pierre Paul Broca located the part of the brain controlling speech.

* The Sand River Convention was signed by Great Britain and the Boers in South Africa. Britain altered its policy of trying to annex the Orange Free State and the Transvaal by guaranteeing those areas self-determination. The convention contained a clause forbidding slavery, but it also prohibited the sale of firearms to the natives.

* Henri Giffard constructed the first practical dirigible balloon, powering it with steam. Using a 3-hp steam engine to drive an 11-ft. propeller, Giffard-starting from Paris-flew his 143-ft. balloon 17 mi. at a speed of 5.5 mph.

Dec. 2 Pres. Louis Napoleon Bonaparte of France, the nephew of Napoleon I, was proclaimed Emperor Napoleon III. (The "II" was skipped in deference to the dead son of Napoleon I.) Earlier in the month, the French people had voted 7,800,000 to 250,000 for "the restoration of imperial dignity." Napoleon III became the first modern European dictator.

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