their Defence by Counsel or Attorney ("Prisoner's Counsel" or "Trial for Felonies" Act) requires provision of defence counsel for those charged with serious crimes (coming into force 1 October); also passing of an Act to prevent the Fact of a previous Conviction being given in Evidence to the Jury on the Case before them. 22 August – Midland Bank established in Birmingham as the Birmingham and Midland Bank. 31 August – last hanging for arson, Daniel Case at Ilchester. 2 October – naturalist Charles Darwin returns to Falmouth, Cornwall, aboard after a 5-year journey collecting biological data he will later use to develop his theory of evolution. 15 October – first bishop nominated to the Diocese of Ripon, the first new diocese since establishment of the Church of England. 14 December – the London and Greenwich Railway opens throughout from London Bridge to Deptford. 28 November – University of London founded. 27 December – Lewes avalanche in East Sussex kills eight. Undated – first minting since 1800 of the fourpence coin (groat or "joey"). Publications Charles Dickens' first novel The Pickwick Papers ("The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club..., edited by Boz"; first monthly part dated March). Frederick Marryat's anonymous novel Mr Midshipman Easy. A. W. N. Pugin's treatise on the morality of Catholic Gothic architecture Contrasts Births 16 February – Robert Halpin, mariner and cable layer (died 1894) 8 March – Harriet Samuel, businesswoman, founder of jewellery retailer H. Samuel (died 1908) 12 March – Isabella Beeton, journalist, writer on cookery and household management (died 1865) 24 May – Joseph Rowntree, chocolate manufacturer and Quaker philanthropist (died 1925) 9 June – Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, doctor and suffragist (died 1917) 8 July – Joseph Chamberlain, politician (died 1914) 7 September – Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (died 1908) 26 September – Thomas Crapper, plumber, inventor (died 1910) 27 October – Thomas Gwyn Elger, astronomer (died 1897) 18 November – W. S. Gilbert, dramatist (died 1911) 22 November – George Barham, businessman, founder of Express County Milk Supply Company (died 1913) 7 December – John Wolfe Barry, architect and civil engineer (died 1918) Deaths 21 January – Jack Small, cricketer (born 1765) 28 January – William Scott, 1st Baron Stowell, judge (born 1745) 31 January – John Cheyne, physician (born 1777) 1 February – John By, military engineer (born 1779) 4 February – Sir William Gell, archaeologist (born