Vice-Admiral Robert Fitzroy was head of the first meteorological office, begun at the British Board of Trade in 1854.  He was already famous as the Captain of the H.M.S. Beagle during Charles Darwin's visit to the Galapogos Islands, and then as the Governor of the New Zealand colony.  He inventions included improved barometers and the advent of weather forecasting, including an alert system for approaching storms for British ports.  Depressed and with money troubles, he committed suicide at his home outside London.  He was 60 years old. (By John Osborne)  

Nicholas Alexandrovich, the heir to the Romanov throne of the Russian Empire, had been declining in health for some months after a heavy fall during a wrestling match.  Doctors later diagnosed his ailment as spinal meningitis. He took up residence on the French coast at Nice in an attempt to recover but quietly died there.  He was twenty-one years old and recently engaged to the younger sister of the Princess of Wales.  His younger brother went on to become Nicholas II of Russia and marry his former bethrothed.  (By John Osborne) 

Richard Cobden was a textile manufacturer and distinguished politician who had been for decades an apostle for free trade.  He was popular in the United States for his political views and, more recently, his support for the Federal cause in the American Civil War both inside and outside Parliament.  The son of a farmer, he had a factory in Manchester and was famous, with John Bright, in bringing down the protectionist Corn Laws.  He died at his home in London of respiratory complications.  He was sixty years old. (By John Osborne) 

Attempting to advance down the Parana River in Argentina, Paraguayan naval forces attacked the Brazilian fleet a few miles downstream from the captured river port of Corrientes. Eight poorly equipped vessels energetically fought a force of nine Brazilan warships but superior firepower won in the end. After several hours fighting, three Paraguayan vessels were sunk and their commander and several hundred of his men killed. (By John Osborne)

To strike at its main enemy Brazil, Paraguay had invaded another neighbor, Argentina, after its president had refused peaceful passage of troops from either combatant. Paraguayan naval units had captured Corrientes, an Argentinian port on the Parana River in mid-April. Argentine and allied forces made a bold sortie and recaptured the town after heavy fighting.  They had to soon relinquish the port but had scored a morale boosting early victory, on the Argentinian national day, in what would be a long war.  (By John Osborne)

The aggressive policies of Paraguayan president, Francisco Solano López, together with resistance from Brazil, had brought open warfare between Paraguay and Brazil and Uraguay in late 1864.  After López attacked another neighbor, Argentina, a few weeks before, the three nations ranged against Paraguay met and formed the Triple Alliance.  Full details of the alliance were kept secret. The war would last until 1870 and devastate the region, especially Paraguay, killing perhaps 400,000 South Americans.  (By John Osborne)

The aggressive policies of Paraguayan president, Francisco Solano López, together with resistance from Brazil, had brought open warfare between the two nations in late 1864.  To strike at Brazil, Paraguay invaded another neighbor, Argentina, after its president had refused peaceful passage of troops from either combatant. Paraguayan naval units captured Corrientes, an Argentinian port on the Parana River.  This would bring Argentina into a war that would last until 1870 and devastate the region, killing perhaps 400,000 South Americans.  (By John Osborne)