A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.

- Abraham Lincoln, 1858

In the year 1858...

• American consul Townsend Harris successfully negotiates the "Harris Treaty," the first commercial treaty with Japan.
• Japanese scholar Fukuzawa Yukichi founds Keio University, Japan's first instution of higher education.
• The Great Stink of London caused havoc, almost forcing Parliament to close.

These people were born in 1858:

• Theodore Roosevelt, the future 26th President of the United States.

These people died in 1858:

• American naval officer Matthew Perry, who presided over the Opening of Japan.

1857 - 1858 - 1859

19th century

This is a collaboratively edited writeup. You are encouraged to assimilate and supersede it.