Dashed left edge = started before December 1857 ·
Dashed right edge = ongoing beyond December 1857
Events in December 1857 2
1857The Alpine Club founded in LondonWorld's first mountaineering club establishedA group of British climbers founded the Alpine Club in London, the world's first organization dedicated to mountaineering. The club formalized the sport during what became known as the Golden Age of Alpinism. It later played a central role in early ascents of the Alps' major peaks.
1857Capture of GuangzhouAnglo-French forces seize the Chinese city during the Second Opium WarBritish and French forces bombarded and captured Guangzhou, overcoming Qing defenses in a decisive early engagement of the Second Opium War. The allied powers occupied the city for several years afterward. The campaign pressured the Qing government toward further trade concessions.