Great Exhibition

Quick Facts: Who was Great Exhibition?

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Great Exhibition

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The seminal 1851 international fair showcasing global industrial might and Victorian progress.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Great Exhibition or the Crystal Palace Exhibition (in reference to the temporary structure in which it was held), was an international exhibition that took place in Hyde Park, London, from 1 May to 15 October 1851. It was the first in a series of world's fairs, exhibitions of culture and industry that became popular in the 19th century. The event was organised by Henry Cole and Albert, Prince Consort of Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom. Famous people of the time attended the Great Exhibition, including Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, C.H. Spurgeon, Michael Faraday (who assisted with the planning and judging of exhibits), Samuel Colt, John Mercer, members of the Orléanist royal family and the writers Charlotte Brontë, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, George Eliot, Alfred Tennyson, and William Makepeace Thackeray. The future Arts and Crafts proponent William Morris, then a teenager, later said he refused to attend the Exhibition on the grounds of taste.

Career & Major Achievements

Exhibits showcased include the first public flush toilets invented by George Jennings. The opening music, under the superintendence of William Sterndale Bennett, was directed by George Thomas Smart. Organised by Howard Staunton, the first international chess tournament took place at the Exhibition. The world's first soft drink, Schweppes, was the official sponsor of the event. The Great Exhibition was organised by Prince Albert, Henry Cole, Francis Henry, George Wallis, Wentworth Dilke, and other members of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce as a celebration of modern industrial technology and design.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Society had only received its royal charter in 1847. It was arguably a response to the highly effective French Industrial Exposition of 1844: indeed, its prime motive was for Britain to make "clear to the world its role as industrial leader". Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, was an enthusiastic promoter of the self-financing exhibition; the government was persuaded to form the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 to establish the viability of hosting such an exhibition. Subscription Committees across the United Kingdom accepted donations from ordinary citizens, who contributed to its financing. The royal family was initially hesitant of bringing crowds from Europe into London during a revolutionary period, which could target them, as well as the royal family's clashes with the Chartists in the United Kingdom.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1844: 1844 Milestone — It was arguably a response to the highly effective French Industrial Exposition of 1844: indeed, its prime motive was for Britain to make "clear to the world its role as industrial leader".
2. 1847: 1847 Milestone — The Society had only received its royal charter in 1847.
3. 1851: 1851 Milestone — The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Great Exhibition or the Crystal Palace Exhibition (in reference to the temporary structure in which it was held), was an international exhibition that took place in Hyde Park, London, from 1 May to 15 October 1851.

Notable Quotes by Great Exhibition

“Large, piled-up 'trophy' exhibits in the central avenue revealed the organisers' priorities; they generally put art or colonial raw materials in the most prestigious place.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Great Exhibition

True or False: “The Great Exhibition was primarily intended to showcase Britain's industrial superiority following the French Industrial Exposition of 1844.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Its prime motive was explicitly for Britain to demonstrate its role as the world's leading industrial power.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alexander Graham Bell — Historical peer (Born in 1847) (1847): Pioneering inventor credited with patenting the first practical telephone.
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• Adelbert Brownlow-Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow — Historical peer (Born in 1844) (1844): British soldier, courtier, and Conservative politician who held several high offices.

Frequently Asked Questions about Great Exhibition