crowned King of Siam, at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Mid-May to mid-July – Great Flood of 1851: Extensive flooding sweeps across the Midwestern United States. The town of Des Moines is virtually washed away, and many rainfall records hold for 160 years. June 2 Maine passes the first state-wide prohibition law in the United States. Castle & Cooke, the predecessor of Dole Food Company, is founded in Hawaii. June 21 – The Immortal Game, a famous chess match, is played between Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky, during a break in the first international tournament, held in London. July–September July 1 Port Phillip District separates from New South Wales to become the Colony of Victoria (Australia). Serial poisoner Hélène Jégado is arrested in Rennes, France. July 10 – The University of the Pacific is chartered as California Wesleyan College, in Santa Clara, California. July 28 – Total solar eclipse visible in Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Northern Europe, the first solar eclipse to be photographed. July 29 – Annibale de Gasparis, in Naples, Italy discovers asteroid 15 Eunomia. August 1 – Virginia closes its Reform Constitutional Convention, deciding that all white men have the right to vote. August 3 – The filibustering Lopez Expedition sails from New Orleans, Louisiana heading to seize Spanish-ruled Cuba. August 12 – Isaac Singer is granted a United States patent for his improved sewing machine. August 22 – The yacht America wins the first America's Cup race, off the coast of England. September 1 – Narciso López was executed in Havana following the failure of his expedition in Cuba. September 15 – Saint Joseph's University is founded in Philadelphia. September 18 – The New York Times is founded in New York City. September 30 – HSwMS Eugenie leaves from Karlskrona, Sweden to begin its voyage as the first Swedish Royal Navy vessel to circumnavigate the world. October–December October – The Reuters news service is founded in London. October 15 The City of Winona, Minnesota is founded. The Great Exhibition in London is closed. October 24 – Ariel and Umbriel, moons of Uranus, are discovered by William Lassell. November 1 – Saint Petersburg–Moscow Railway officially opened in Russia. November 13 The Denny Party lands at Alki Point, the first settlers of what later becomes Seattle. The first protected submarine telegraph cable is laid, across the English Channel. November 14 – Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick; or The Whale