Governor George Sewall Boutwell of Massachusetts signs the first state law in the country mandating compulsory school attendance.  Children between the ages of eight and fourteen must attend no less than sixteen weeks of school per year, including at least six weeks of consecutive school days. (By John Osborne)

The New York Central Railroad Company, the product of a merger of ten New York rail companies the previous May, began operation under its own officers. It had more than 500 miles of track. (By John Osborne)

Ten New York railroad companies agreed to form the New York Central Railroad Company. The new company had more than 500 miles of track. It began to operate under its own officers the following August. (By John Osborne)

The Union Grounds, the first enclosed baseball park in the country, opened in Brooklyn, New York. It was at Lee Avenue and Rutledge Street, on the site of an old skating rink. (By John Osborne)

Gail Borden Jr. of Brooklyn, New York finally received the patent for process of condensing milk he had applied for more than three years before.  The Patent Office had been highly skeptical of the process.  It was a further five years before Borden opened his first successful condensed milk factory in Wassaic, New York in June 1861. (By John Osborne)

Gail Borden Jr. of Brooklyn, New York applied to patent his process for the condensing of milk.  The Patent Office was highly skeptical of the method and did not award the patent until August 19, 1856.  It was a further five years before Borden opened the first successful milk condensing plant at Wassaic, New York. (By John Osborne)

The Masonic College of Missouri opened in Philadelphia, Missouri under its first president J. Worthington Smith.  The first of its kind in the country, it moved to Lexington, Missouri in 1847 but closed by 1859. (By John Osborne)