Events from the year 1866 in the United Kingdom. Incumbents Monarch – Victoria Prime Minister – John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (Liberal) (until 28 June); Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (Conservative) (starting 28 June) Parliament – 19th (starting 1 February) Events 1 January – London Fire Brigade is formed as The Metropolitan Fire Brigade. 12 January Royal Aeronautical Society is formed as 'The Aeronautical Society of Great Britain' in London, the world's oldest such society. Auxiliary steamer sinks in a storm in the Bay of Biscay on passage from Gravesend to Australia with the loss of 244 people and only 19 survivors. 11 May – London bank Overend, Gurney and Company collapses precipitating a financial crisis. 18 June – Lord Russell loses a vote of no confidence against his government. 26 June – Lord Russell resigns as Prime Minister, following splits in the Liberal Party over parliamentary reform. The Earl of Derby takes over, leading a minority Conservative administration. July – Elizabeth Garrett Anderson opens the St Mary's Dispensary in the Marylebone district of London where women can seek medical advice from exclusively female practitioners. 2 July – The Yorkshire Post first published as a daily newspaper in Leeds. 5 July – marriage of Princess Helena, third daughter of Queen Victoria, to Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein at Windsor. 23 to 25 July – demonstrations in Hyde Park, London, in favour of parliamentary reform turn violent. 27 July – the successfully completes laying the transatlantic telegraph cable between Valentia Island, Ireland and Heart's Content, Newfoundland, permanently restoring a communications link. end July – W. G. Grace scores 224 not out for the All-England cricket team against Surrey at the Oval, just after his 18th birthday. 1 August – the National Olympian Association (promoted by John Hulley of Liverpool and Dr William Brookes of the Wenlock Olympian Society Annual Games) stages the first National Olympian Games field events at The Crystal Palace in South London. W. G. Grace wins the 440 yards hurdles. 6 September – the Great Tea Race of 1866 ends in London, narrowly won by the clipper ship Taeping. September General Post Office begins erection of hexagonal pillar boxes to the design of John Penfold. The song Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau – to become the official national anthem of Wales – is sung for the first time at the National Eisteddfod of Wales held at Chester. 4 December