In northeast England, an accidental explosion of nitroglycerin kills the Sheriff of Newcastle and six others.

In Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a merchant was discovered to have purchased a supply of nitroglycerin, the new alternative to gunpowder, and had now found it in an unstable state.  The Sheriff of Newcastle, a ceremonial position, happened to be a student of chemistry and took charge of the disposal of the explosive materials which were to be buried outside of the the town.  During the disposal, a significant portion of the cache exploded suddenly, killing five officials and carters immediately and mortally wounding two others, including the Sheriff John Mawson and the town surveyor.  (By John Osborne).