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- 1831
- Central Board of Health set up to deal with the cholera epidemic ­ the first time the state takes action over public health.
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- 1832
- Cholera Act passed after 30,000 have died in four epidemics.
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- 1840
- Vaccination Act attempts to deal with smallpox by free vaccines from local medical officers.
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- 1842
- Edwin Chadwick establishes the environmental origins of much illness and mortality among the poor.
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- 1845
- In response to ChadwickΓÇÖs report, the Health of Towns Commission calls for drainage and clean water measures.
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- 1846
- Liverpool Sanitary Act effectively makes Liverpool a health authority. The city employs BritainΓÇÖs first Medical Officer of Health.
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- 1848
- Public Health Act establishes General Board of Health and some local boards, empowered to carry out sanitary reform.
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- 1850s
- Acid rain first identified, in Manchester.
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- 1851
- Population of England and Wales has doubled in half a century. Now about 18 million.
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- 1853
- Vacination against smallpox becomes compulsory for all infants.
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- 1858
- Public Health Act: the General Board of Health is wound up and local authorities are to establish their own sanitary measures.
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- 1859
- Work begins on LondonΓÇÖs mains drainage system.
- Darwin publishes ΓÇÿOn the Origin of Species by Means of Natural SelectionΓÇÖ.
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- 1860
- The first popular conservation movement objects to the killing of birds to provide plumage for womenΓÇÖs fashion.
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- 1863
- The Alkali Act and creation of the Alkali Inspectorate, the first government environmental agency.
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- 1865-6
- 14,000 die in BritainΓÇÖs last great cholera epidemic.
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- 1865
- Main London sewers completed.
- Formation of the first private environmental group, the Commons, Open Spaces and Footpaths Preservation Society.
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- 1867
- Report of the Royal Commission on River Pollution.
- Formation of the East Riding Association for the Protection of Seabirds ­ possibly the first wildlife preservation organisation.
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- 1869
- Parliament passes act for the preservation of seabirds.
- LondonΓÇÖs first water filtration plant operational.