Events from the year 1861 in the United Kingdom. Incumbents Monarch – Victoria Prime Minister – Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (Liberal) Parliament – 18th Events 1 January – first steam-powered merry-go-round recorded, in Bolton. 15 February – about 350 convicts held on St Mary's Island at Chatham Dockyard take over their prison in a riot. 20 February – storms damage the Crystal Palace in London and cause the collapse of the steeple of Chichester Cathedral. 21 to 26 March – major fire in Southwark destroys several buildings. 30 March – William Crookes announces his discovery of thallium. 7 April – United Kingdom census. The population is more than double that of 1801. 12 April – American Civil War breaks out, leading to Lancashire Cotton Famine (1861–1865). 13 May – British government resolves to remain neutral in the American Civil War. 17 May – Thomas Cook runs the first package holiday from London to Paris. July – outbreak of yellow fever onboard paddle frigate HMS Firebrand in the West Indies kills 52. 31 July – Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act codifies company law. 6 August – Criminal Law Consolidation Acts (drafted by Charles Sprengel Greaves) granted Royal Assent, generally coming into effect on 1 November. The death penalty is limited to murder, embezzlement, piracy, high treason and to acts of arson perpetrated upon docks or ammunition depots; the age of consent is codified as twelve. The Home Secretary takes over the power to reprieve or commute sentences from the judiciary and Privy Council. Accessories and Abettors Act, codifying the law on accessories and abettors. Coinage Offences Act, codifying the law on counterfeiting of coins. Criminal Statutes Repeal Act. Forgery Act, codifying the law on forgery. Larceny Act, codifying the law on larceny and related offences. Malicious Damage Act, codifying the law on criminal damage. Offences against the Person Act, codifying the law on violent offence against the person and abortion and creating the offence of "causing bodily harm by wanton or furious driving". 27 August – last execution in Britain for attempted murder – Martin Doyle in Chester. 16 September – Post Office Savings Bank opens. 24 October – HMS Warrior, the world's first ocean-going (all) iron-hulled armoured battleship is completed and commissioned. 8 November – Trent Affair: Union captained ship USS San Jacinto intercepts the British mail packet Trent at sea and removes two Confederate diplomats. 25 November –